Barcelona announce £107.5m signing of Antoine Griezmann - but Atletico Madrid threaten legal actionAtletico Madrid are threatening legal action after Barcelona announced they had signed Antoine Griezmann for 120million euros (£107.5million).Barcelona triggered the buy-out clause in Griezmann’s contract with Atletico, which came into force on July 1, but this is being disputed.
Telegraph Sport revealed that Barcelona would meet the clause but Atletico argue that they are actually due 200million euros (£179million) because, they claim, an agreement was reached three months ago behind their backs.If that was the case then the higher figure – the previous clause - would be due but Atletico would have to prove an agreement was formalised between Barcelona and the French international.
Griezmann’s lawyer deposited the 120million euro payment at the offices of La Liga on Friday morning to formally release the striker from his contract. Within minutes of Barcelona then announcing the deal to sign Griezmann Atletico released their own statement which read: “Atletico de Madrid considers that the deposited amount is insufficient to cover his buyout clause since it is obvious that the agreement between the player and FC Barcelona was closed before the clause was reduced from EUR 200million to EUR 120million…
Atletico de Madrid believes the termination of the contract happened before the end of the last season due to facts, acts and demonstrations made by the player and therefore has already initiated the procedures it has deemed appropriate to protect their rights and lawful interests.”It remains to be seen what form of action Atletico carry through – whether it is against Griezmann personally or directed at Barcelona – but their dispute centres on a statement made by the player in May announcing he was leaving the club.
It was widely known in football that Barcelona was the 28-year-old’s destination although whether Atletico can prove a formal agreement was in place when the higher clause was due remains to be seen. It may well be they attempt to go to the Court of Arbitration in Sport but that is unlikely.The development is yet another twist on what has been one of the longest running sagas in football with Griezmann having first signalled his intention to leave Atletico two years ago, only to stay because of a transfer ban, and then change his mind about moving to Barcelona last year after announcing he was leaving then.
Barcelona have pushed ahead with trumpeting the five-year deal which also includes an 800million euros (£717million) buy-out clause in Griezmann’s contract which is the highest in world football. Even Lionel Messi’s buy-out stands at 700million euros (£628million), for a contract that runs until 2021.
Attention will now turn to whether Barcelona can construct a deal to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain. Leonardo, PSG’s new sporting director, has confirmed that the club will let the Brazilian go for the right price. PSG would want a fee – or a deal if players are included – significantly in excess of the world-record 222 million euros they paid for Neymar two years ago.
The striker refused to return for pre-season training in Paris this week which infuriated the club and has been considering going public with his discontent with an interview on Brazilian television. There remains scepticism that Barcelona will be able to put together a suitable deal.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/07/12/barcelona-announce-signing-antoine-griezmann-insert-800m-buyout/
