Atletico will be forced to buy Antoine Griezmann in £34m transfer if he plays half games he’s available for, say Barca
ATLETICO MADRID will be forced to spend £34million on Antoine Griezmann if he plays at least half of their games this season.
The Frenchman sealed a dramatic deadline day return to Atletico from Barcelona last week.
But there has been confusion over the terms of the deal.
Griezmann, 30, has re-signed for Atleti on an initial loan deal.
The specific terms of the transfer initially left fans baffled, however.
Atletico possess both an option to extend the loan move by an extra year… and an obligation to buy for £34m.
So amid the confusion, Barca president Joan Laporta has sought to clear things up.
He explained: “Atletico’s option to buy will be activated if he plays 50 per cent of the games that he is available for.”
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This means that if he fails to reach that number of appearances, Atletico will be able to extend the loan deal.
Barcelona made a staggering £74m loss on Griezmann just two years after shelling out around £108m for him.
But Laporta has praised the 2018 World Cup winner’s professionalism.
He said: “We hoped for a lot from him, but he has given his all.
“He never had a bad attitude. I have sent him a message wishing him the best personally and professionally.
“In football terms, he wasn’t a player that we needed. He was important in the Copa.”
Griezmann made 102 appearances in total for Barcelona; netting 35 goals and laying on 17 assists.
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