The Frenchman has severed all ties with Barcelona following the confirmation of his permanent return to Atletico Madrid. The striker forward has been back in Madrid since completing a loan switch from Camp Nou in summer 2021, after a big-money transfer to Catalunya did not go as planned.
Early in the ongoing season, Atletico were hesitant to activate a purchase clause in Griezmann’s contract, but they have now pushed through an initial 20 million euros agreement that will see Griezmann commit to a long-term contract.
“Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement over the transfer of Antoine Griezmann, who since the summer of 2021 and until now had played for our club on loan from FC Barcelona. In addition, the French striker has signed a contract that will link him to our club until 30 June 2026,”
a club statement read.
Griezmann joined Barcelona for 120 million euros in 2019, making him the sixth-most expensive player in history. Before returning to Atletico on a two-year loan at the start of last season, he scored 35 goals in 102 games. The 31-year-old has three goals and two assists in 11 games this season, but only three of those games have been starts.
According to Spanish football reporter Guillem Balague, Griezmann’s loan contract included a clause requiring Atletico to buy the forward for 40 million euros if he played more than 45 minutes in more than 50% of their games.
In response, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has used Griezmann as a substitute after 60 minutes in eight of his 11 appearances this season to avoid activating that clause. Griezmann could make his first appearance for Los Rojiblancos as a permanent member against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The 2018 World Cup winner is the club’s fourth-highest scorer, with 144 goals in 304 appearances over two spells, having joined from Real Sociedad in 2014. During his time at Wanda Metropolitano, he won the Europa League, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Uefa Super Cup.
