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Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season amid rumours he will join Barcelona:
Colin Millar @Millar_Colin
Griezmann now officially confirms Atletico Madrid goodbye. “It’s been an incredible five years here; thanks for everything, from the bottom of my heart.” https://t.co/OgTo5NpfTG
The Spanish champions are in talks with the France international over a potential five-year deal at the Camp Nou as they look to strengthen their attack during the summer transfer window, according to reporter Fabrizio Romano:
Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano
Official: Antoine Griezmann is going to leave Atlético de Madrid!
…and Barcelona are ready to pay his release clause for €125M
https://t.co/rMGAyEchSy
The Blaugrana are reportedly willing to pay his €125 million release clause in order to bring Griezmann to Barcelona this summer.
Griezmann turned down a move to Barcelona in summer 2018 and announced his plans to stay at Atletico in a documentary called La Decision. However, Barcelona appear to have renewed their efforts to land the World Cup winner in the wake of their dramatic exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Liverpool.
Atletico were keen to avoid another summer of transfer speculation concerning their star forward and called a meeting to discuss his future, according to ESPN’s David Cartlidge:
David Cartlidge @davidjaca
Emergency meeting called at Atleti over Antoine Griezmann. Club wants to avoid another ‘Decision’ style saga this summer at all costs. Gil MarĂn, Simeone, Andrea Berta all present; they want to hear it from Griezmann personally if he does wish to leave.
Griezmann reportedly told Atletico that he wants to leave in order to find a “new challenge,” according to Isaac Suarez at Marca. The 28-year-old’s release clause is currently €200 million, but it drops to €125 million on July 1, per the report.
Griezmann will pay the release clause but has not told the club where he will be going, per Cartlidge:
David Cartlidge @davidjaca
Griezmann didn’t give his destination to Atleti. However, he informed them he will be depositing the €120m release clause before LaLiga on July 1st, as per rules.
The Frenchman has played a key role for Atletico again this season, scoring 21 goals in all competitions to help Los Colchoneros finish second behind Barca in La Liga.
Opta highlighted just how important he has been to Atleti during his five years at the club:
OptaJose @OptaJose
133 – Antoine Griezmann is AtlĂ©tico de Madrid’s all-time fifth-highest goalscorer in all competitions (133 goals). Farewell. https://t.co/h7S8zldo7t
A move to Barcelona may not be overly popular with supporters given the way that Griezmann rejected the club’s advances last summer.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu has suggested there are no hard feelings and has said “the documentary about his decision is water under the bridge,” per Samuel Marsden at ESPN FC.
Football correspondent Kieran Canning said Barcelona are getting a bargain:
Kieran Canning @KieranCanning
Griezmann off to Barca. Buy out clause price of 125m euros a snip when compared to fees for Coutinho & Dembele but does mean pressure now on Barca to find some buyers for big players
Barcelona have spent heavily on attackers in recent transfers window but without huge success:
EiF @EiFSoccer
Griezmann: ~125m
Coutinho: ~140m
DembĂ©lĂ©: ~120mAnd that doesn’t even take into account their massive wages.
Crazy to think Barcelona have spent that much on three players who combined will not do more than what MbappĂ© would’ve brought to the team.
Ousmane Dembele arrived in the wake of Neymar’s departure, but although he’s shown glimpses of his talent during his time at the Camp Nou his stay has been disrupted by injury.
Philippe Coutinho has also struggled to make an impact after arriving from Liverpool in January 2018, and the club are willing to sell the Brazil forward to fund a move for Griezmann, according to Sergi Capdevila at Sport.
The club also moved to bring in Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan from Sassuolo in January, but he has managed just three La Liga starts and is yet to score.
Barcelona are in need of reinforcements in attack with striker Luis Suarez having turned 32 in January, and it looks as though Griezmann will be playing his football at the Camp Nou next season.
from Update News Topic http://bit.ly/2VBzAu6
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