Dispute between clubs settled
“We haven’t met with Barcelona yet and we don’t intend to,” Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético Madrid, said in mid-September about the dispute with FC Barcelona over the loaned striker Antoine Griezmann. At this point in time, reports had already come to an approaching agreement between the clubs, which was intended to prevent a legal dispute over the obligation to buy in the 31-year-old’s loan agreement. With consistent reports from Spain and France, this agreement has now been reached. The newspaper “L’EquipeAccording to Atlético, they want to announce the deal later this week.
As well as “Relevo” and the “mark‘ write, Griezmann’s permanent return will cost the ‘Colchoneros’ €20m transfer fee excluding bonuses ranging from €2m to €5m depending on the medium. This sum corresponds to just half of the purchase obligation that was identified as part of the loan at the end of August 2021. In addition, Griezmann is said to be ready to reduce his salary to 8 million euros net.
Bale, Dembélé & Co.: All transfers over 100 million in chronological order
The newspaper “El Mundo” recently published as part of its “Barça Leaks” that Griezmann paid 100 million euros net salary when he was extended at Atlético in 2018, a year before moving to the Catalans for 120 million euros agreed over the next five years. In Barcelona he then signed for less, 177 million euros gross, until 2024. Now Griezmann should get a contract with Atlético until 2026 or 2027. With the salary reduction, he would come up to 40 million euros net with a five-year contract. Atlético pays a significantly lower salary than planned four years ago and, including the loan fee, transfers EUR 90 million less than it received from Barça in 2019. The Catalans, on the other hand, will definitely not have to pay the high salary payments in the next two years and will also receive a fee.
Atlético avoids Griezmann’s obligation to buy: “Acceptable conditions”
“Acceptable conditions, especially since he seems to be one of the few who really wants to this season,” writes user “ForzaAtleti88” appropriately in the club forum at Transfermarkt. “In a very comical manner, people shied away from the actual obligation to buy. You can think of what you want, I find it highly questionable. I hope that this only increases his motivation and that he finally gets lucky again.”
In order to avoid the obligation to buy for 40 million euros, Atlético had used Griezmann mainly as a joker this season. The clause would have applied if the attacker had played at least 45 minutes in 50 percent of the games during his two-year loan. In the first year, Griezmann fulfilled that condition, but the rival clubs have different views about the interpretation for the second season, which is why there was even a threat of going to court.
The only games Griezmann played for more than 90 minutes were the 2-0 defeat by Brugge in the Champions League last Tuesday night and the 2-1 city derby against Real Madrid on September 18. Otherwise, coach Diego Simeone never relied on his star striker for more than 29 minutes. Griezmann himself is said to have been very dissatisfied with this recently, but kept a low profile until the clubs reached an agreement.
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