Antoine Griezmann completes sensational return to Atletico Madrid from Barcelona
[ad_1]
Antoine Griezmann’s return to Atletico Madrid runs into a last-minute problem after cash-strapped Barcelona agreed to let him go with a first loan …
- Antoine Griezmann ‘accepted’ sensational return to Atletico Madrid today
- The 30-year-old has failed to deliver since moving to Barcelona for £ 108million
- However, the deal appears to be on the rocks due to the tight schedule.
- Barcelona are also in advanced talks with Sevilla over a deal for Luuk de Jong
After two weeks where Real Madrid dominated the transfer window with their unsuccessful pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, it was Atletico Madrid who significantly won the deadline in Spain by taking over Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona.
It was chaos at midnight Spanish time when Griezmann’s signing was still unrecorded with La Liga. But a La Liga spokesperson appeared half an hour later at 11:30 p.m. UK time to tell reporters the three deals would be done.
Cash-strapped Barca were the big losers in the latest wave of activity as not only did the pressure on the wage bill forced them to outsource Griezmann, they were only able to bring in Luuk de Jong (Sevilla’s third center-forward) as a replacement.
Barcelona-Atletico Madrid deal for Antoine Griezmann nears
The Frenchman is open to a return to Atletico after a tumultuous spell with the Camp Nou squad
Saul Niguez was the third man in the deadline day drama – it was his departure on loan from Chelsea that freed up salary space to sign Griezmann.
The deadline started with huge doubts as to whether Saul would be able to join Chelsea. His representatives had met Atletico Madrid on Monday morning when told the player could not leave on loan at Chelsea. Coach Diego Simeone didn’t want an important player to leave on the last day of the window.
But until Tuesday it became clear that Griezmann was growing more and more confident that he would be able to return to Atletico Madrid and that that confidence was based on Atletico now accepting the loan from Chelsea. for Saul and reduces his payroll to the tune of 14 million euros per year. season.
Chelsea will pay € 5m for Saul’s loan and € 40m if they decide to sign the 26-year-old.
Luuk de Jong is set to move to Barcelona, ​​who are in advanced talks with Sevilla
Griezmann returns to Atletico with Barca set to add a € 50m call option to a player he paid € 120m just two summers ago.
Once Saul at Chelsea allowed Griezmann to speak at Atletico, Barcelona found themselves on the hunt for a new striker and it is a measure of their financial situation that they turned to De Jong.
The former Newcastle forward is currently the third choice at Sevilla after scoring 10 goals in two seasons for the club.
As the drama played out between Atletico, Barca and Sevilla, Real Madrid’s doomed pursuit of Paris Saint Germain’s Kylian Mbappe ended in a last failed bid of € 200million.
The Spanish club will now sign the 22-year-old for free next summer.
Madrid knew Mbappe was staying in France when, after their two previous offers – the latest of € 170m plus € 10m in top-ups – were ignored, the player was selected to play for PSG this weekend. end.
An exchange agreement involving Joao Felix had been mentioned but these negotiations never took off
Tuesday night’s latest offer was seen as a starting shot in a war of attrition which has seen PSG coach Leonardo label the Spanish club’s behavior “illegal” and “disrespectful”.
Madrid had a little semblance of revenge yesterday for missing Mbappe when he signed the goal from PSG 18-year-old midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes for € 30million.
But it will hurt them that their city rivals have fought at home in the race for the most impressive window. Their catches of Griezmann, Rafa Mir and Rodrigo de Paul leave them favorites to retain their title.
The 30-year-old thrived under Diego Simeone and was only open to leaving for Atletico
Advertising
[ad_2]