Atletico and Barcelona close to Griezmann agreement

According to The Times, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are close to reaching an agreement over a permanent transfer of Antoine Griezmann back from the Camp Nou to the Wanda Metropolitano. The news will have come as a blow for Juventus, who have been hoping no such agreement would be reached, and that they’d be able to step into the race for the services of the French attacker.

Barcelona signed Griezmann from Atletico back in 2019 for a reported fee of €120 million, enabling the Rojiblancos to sign Joao Felix from Benfica for roughly the same amount. However, Griezmann failed to make the desired impact at the Catalan club, and he was sent back to Atletico on a two-year loan last summer, with a certain minutes-related obligation clause inserted into the deal.

Hoping to get their man back for less than the amount set in the clause, Atletico have been managing Griezmann’s game-time carefully this term, and it seems the strategy has produced results. The report from The Times states a figure of €25m.