Lawsuit being prepared
Antoine Griezmann’s transfer saga continues. The 31-year-old Frenchman, who scored Atlético Madrid’s winner against Porto in the Champions League (2-1), could be subject to a lawsuit in Spain that is supposed to clear up the complicated loan contract that Barcelona and Atleti agreed on last summer.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona are preparing a lawsuit that is supposed to prove that the obligations buy option in Griezmann’s loan contract has already been triggered and that the 31-year-old is now a permanent Atlético Madrid player. The background is a clause that would force Atleti to make the deal permanent for €40 million if he featured at least 45 minutes in 50% of the games he was available in.
Bale, Mbappé & Co. – All €100 million deals in chronological order
Gareth Bale | Tottenham -> Real Madrid | Fee: €101m
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Transfer in the summer of 2013
Paul Pogba | Juventus -> Man United | Fee: €105m
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Transfer in the summer of 2016
Neymar | FC Barcelona -> PSG | Fee: €222m
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Transfer in the summer of 2017
Ousmane Dembélé | BVB -> FC Barcelona | Fee: €140m
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Transfer in the summer of 2017
Philippe Coutinho | Liverpool -> FC Barcelona | Fee: €135m
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Transfer in the summer of 2018
Kylian Mbappé | AS Monaco -> PSG | Fee: €145m
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Initially on loan in 2017, permanent transfer in 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid -> Juventus | Fee: €117m
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Transfer in the summer of 2018
Eden Hazard | Chelsea -> Real Madrid | Fee: €115m
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Transfer in the summer of 2019
Antoine Griezmann | Atlético -> FC Barcelona | Fee: €120m
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Transfer in the summer of 2019
João Félix | Benfica -> Atlético | Fee: €127.2m
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Transfer in the summer of 2019
Jack Grealish | Aston Villa -> Man City | Fee: €117.5m
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Transfer in the summer of 2021
Romelu Lukaku | Inter -> Chelsea | Fee: €113m
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Transfer in the summer of 2021
This was certainly the case during the first season. Griezmann played 35 games for the Rojiblancos, in which he scored eight goals and seven assists. Because of those appearances, his loan was automatically extended by one more season and now opens the door for two different interpretations of the buy-option in his contract.
While Barcelona are convinced that his appearances last season are enough to trigger the buy-option, Atlético believe that the 50% have to be spread over both seasons Griezmann is on loan at the club. As a result, Griezmann was brought off the bench in the first five games of the season, playing 28, 28, 26, 27, and 29 minutes. Head coach Diego Simeone did not want to confirm that his selection process was part of a club directive but also did not deny it. “I am a man of the club and always will be,” Simeone said.
Griezmann to Barça: One of the most expensive transfers in history
Griezmann, too, was a man of the club for five years before he opted to force a transfer to Barcelona in 2019—the €120 million fee made him one of the ten most expensive players in history. The Catalans, however, were unable to stem the fee and the large salary, and Griezmann struggled to reach the form that made him one of the best players in the world while at Atleti.
Villa, Lewandowski & Neymar – FC Barcelona’s record signings
16. André Gomes | 16/17 for €37m from FC Valencia
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15. Paulinho | 17/18 for €40m from Guangzhou Evergrande
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14. David Villa | 10/11 for €40m from FC Valencia
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13. Malcom | 18/19 for €41m from Bordeaux
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12. Robert Lewandowski | 22/23 for €45m from Bayern Munich
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11. Jules Koundé | 22/23 for €50m from Sevilla
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10. Ferran Torres | 21/22 for €55m from Manchester City
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9. Raphinha | 22/23 for €58m from Leeds Utd
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8. Miralem Pjanic | 20/21 for €60m from Juventus
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7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 09/10 for €69.5 from Inter
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6. Luis Suárez | 14/15 for €81.7m from Liverpool
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5. Frenkie de Jong | 19/20 for €86m from Amsterdam
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4. Neymar | 13/14 for €88m from Santos
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3. Antoine Griezmann | 19/20 for €120m from Atlético
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2. Philippe Coutinho | 17/18 for €135m from Liverpool
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1. Ousmane Dembélé | 17/18 for €140m from Dortmund
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