Barcelona's stand-off with Atletico Madrid over Antoine Griezmann has gone the way of the team from the Spanish capital, with Griezmann completing a permanent move to the Wanda Metropolitano.
The French international initially returned to the Rojiblancos on loan in the summer of 2021, having joined Barca two years earlier in a £107m deal. Diego Simeone's side had a £34m purchase option on the Frenchman if he played a certain percentage of games, but their interpretation of the clause left Barca reportedly considering legal action.
Atletico have now confirmed the permanent deal, which has seen Griezmann sign a deal running until 2026. And, while no fee has officially been revealed by the buying club, Barca chiefs have suggested the deal is worth about half the €40m (£34m) Barca were asking for.
"Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Antoine Griezmann, who since the summer of 2021 and to date had played for our club on loan from the Barça entity," a statement from Atleti reads. "In addition, the French striker has signed a contract that will link him to our entity until June 30, 2026."
Griezmann scored 133 goals for Atletico Madrid in his first spell with the club, including two in the 2018 Europa League final as Simeone's team beat Marseille to lift the trophy. However, since returning on loan, he has been far less prolific in front of goal.
Under the terms of the loan, Barca's asking price depended on the 31-year-old playing 30 minutes or more in upwards of 80 per cent of available matches during his loan spell, though interpretations of the clause varied between the clubs. This season, manager Simeone introduced him from the bench after the hour mark in each of his first seven appearances.
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Barcelona have agreed to the move, with reports previously suggesting they had no plan to keep the player at Camp Nou and continue paying his big-money contract. The former Real Sociedad man was loaned out in a summer which saw Barca's financial situation laid bare ( Lionel Messi left in the same window), and the Catalan club have moved on from the man who was once one of their most expensive signings.
"[The] deal has been completed this week, it’s done for €20/25m depending on bonuses," sporting director Mateu Alemany told the Barca's Ordinary General Assembly. "It’s a massive, extraordinary deal for us because of Griezmann's salary — and same for [Philippe] Coutinho."
Coutinho, who also joined Barcelona in a nine-figure deal when he arrived from Liverpool in 2018, finally completed his permanent exit this year. The Brazil international spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa before making a £17m switch to Villa Park.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has also spoken out about the situation around Griezmann. "It's done and it's a good deal - we'll receive €20m fixed and €4m in add-ons," he said.
"There is another clause in the player's sale agreement is that if Atletico Madrid decides to sell the player in the future, they will have to pay us the difference that remains up to the €40m that was set before. If Griezmann returned to Barcelona after the World Cup, his salary was €36m. Just look at the magnitude of our current tragedy."
