Atletico Madrid dispute Antoine Griezmann's move to Barcelona

Roji Blancos insists that the Blaugrana still have to pay another €80m because the player had agreed to the transfer when the buyout was €200m.

Making it official on 12 July 2019, FC Barcelona announced the signing of Antoine Griezmann for a buyout fee of €120m. They also revealed that the player will sign a deal until June 2024 with a release clause of whopping €800m.

But in a recent development in the transfer saga, his former club Atletico Madrid have claimed that the release clause paid was not enough. The revelation comes as the club is stern that Antoine had agreed to join the club before 1 July 2019 when the buyout amount was €200m than to a much cheaper price of €120m.

The official club statement read, "Antoine Griezmann, represented by his lawyer, has appeared at the headquarters of the Professional Football League to unilaterally terminate the contract that links the player with Atlético de Madrid, with Fútbol Club Barcelona having deposited the sum of 120 million euros in the name and on behalf of the footballer."

"Atlético de Madrid considers that the deposited amount is insufficient to cover his buyout clause, since it is obvious that the agreement between the player and FC Barcelona was closed before the clause was reduced from EUR 200 million to EUR 120 million. It was also prior to the date on which the clause was modified the communication that the player made on 14 May announcing his disassociation from the club."

"Atlético de Madrid believes that the termination of the contract happened before the end of the last season due to facts, acts and demonstrations made by the player, and therefore has already initiated the procedures it has deemed appropriate to protect their rights and lawful interests."

Official statement regarding the unilateral termination of the contract that links Antoine Griezmann with our club https://t.co/3V2p51Pmut

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) July 12, 2019

In the summer transfer window of 2018-19, Griezmann was close on joining the Catalonia club but extended his stay at Los Rojiblancos, signing a five-year deal upto the end of 2023. The deal contained his release clause at €200m which was later dropped to €120m on 1 July, 2019. 

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But what went overboard was his way of announcing his decision. He revealed to snub FC Barcelona through a documentary made by the production house owned by Gerard Pique.

FC Barcelona becomes the only club in the world to buy three or more players with transfer fees above than €100m.