Barcelona set to SUE Atletico Madrid over Griezmann transfer
Karan Tejwani
- 9 Sep 2022 03:40 CDT
- 3 min read
Barcelona are preparing to sue Atletico Madrid over the loan move of French forward Antoine Griezmann, with the Blaugrana suggesting he is already a permanent Atleti player.
Barcelona loaned Griezmann out to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2021 on a two-year deal, with an obligation to buy for €40 million, should certain conditions be met.
Atletico Madrid believed those conditions have not been met as they are spread over two years, but Barcelona think otherwise, hence the proposal of a lawsuit.
The Blaugrana believe they are entitled to an immediate payment of €40 million, and that Griezmann is no longer contracted to them on a permanent basis.
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Sources within Barcelona say that the agreement was on a one-year plus one-year deal, where if Griezmann played 50 percent of matches in his first year, Atletico Madrid would be obliged to buy him permanently.
If that didn’t happen, then Atletico Madrid’s loan of the player would automatically be renewed into the second year of the loan agreement.
Griezmann did indeed play 50 percent of Atletico Madrid’s matches last season, hence Barcelona believed the terms have been met and they are entitled to a €40 million payment from the capital club.
Griezmann scores in the 101st minute. Simeone - the manager who’s been told not to pick him from the start - sprints down the touchline to celebrate with him. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/JAGjli2t5I
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) September 7, 2022
They also now find it irrelevant when Griezmann comes on as a substitute – Atletico Madrid have been bringing him on from the bench after the 60th minute of games to stay within their loan agreement and avoid buying him outright.
Atletico Madrid deny that the obligation to buy has been met – as expected – and they say the obligation to buy is only activated if the Frenchman plays 50 percent of matches in each of the two seasons, not just the first.
Griezmann himself is believed to be frustrated over the situation, and according to some reports, his representatives are looking to find a solution in order for him to get more game time this season.
