The ‘Griezmann case’, in the process of finally reaching a solution

The Griezmann case begins to turn towards a satisfactory solution for all parties. One of the most bizarre situations that have occurred in Spanish football is on its way to coming to fruition. At the moment, the French striker has only been a starter in one of the eight games that Simeone’s team has played. In the other seven, he has always jumped onto the field after 60 minutes. And it is not by chance, but causality, since if he played more than 15% of the games that are available this season, the purchase option worth 40 million stipulated in his contract would be automatically executed..

Atlético and Barcelona signed Griezmann’s transfer contract for two seasons on August 31, 2021, with a clause in which Atlético would keep the Frenchman as property and would pay the aforementioned amount if in 50% of the matches who was available played 45 or more minutes. Considering that in the first season he met that requirement in 33 of the 39 matches he was available (that is, 85%), this season they would have to play at least 15% of the games for Atlético to be released from such a commitment. In that case, Barcelona would be left without collecting 40 million and on top of that they would have to reinstate a footballer who still has one more year left on his contract and with a salary (more than 20 million) that would unbalance his finances.

Atlético, aware that in this initial stretch of the League they can underuse Griezmann, has launched an ordago to Barcelona, ​​​​which is in a position of weakness. Although Barcelona was initially annoyed by Atlético’s cunning and considered taking legal measures, after analyzing the situation within the Barça club well, they have no qualms about admitting that they made a mistake in the negotiation and that they have lost the game, so they have agreed to negotiate a downgrade of the purchase option. According to sources from the negotiation to AS, they believe that the agreement will close at 25 million fixed and 10 more for objectivesalthough at this time this meeting point has not yet been reached and negotiations continue.

Fundamental for the Cholo

Everyone has an interest in the issue being resolved as soon as possible. Griezmann, because he wants to start playing full games to reach the World Cup in optimal conditions. For this reason, he has pressured Atlético to solve his situation. He has accepted his role as ‘substitute’ to help the club maintain a strong position in the negotiation, but he does not want to continue in this situation for much longer. Atlético, meanwhile, wants to please the Frenchman and Simeone, who is also pressing to be able to have his full-time franchise player. While Barcelona urgently needs to enter money to continue strengthening itself in the winter market and, in addition, avoid the hypothetical problem of having to reincorporate Griezmann next summer. There is no set date to reach an agreement, but the parties seek to solve it before the World Cup begins, as is Griezmann’s wish.