As of today, Antoine Griezmann's price drops from €200m to only €120m
The French forward's buyout clause has been reduced by €80m and he could be announced as a Barça player as soon as this week
As of today Antoine Griezmann's buyout clause has dropped from €200m to just €120m. Barça could pay this figure as soon as this week and end a transfer saga which has gone on 12 months longer than intended.
A little over a year ago the forward announced, via a mini-documentary called 'La Decision', that he would be staying at Atletico Madrid for another season.
Most expected that would be that after a very public and humiliating rejection. However, Griezmann has since announced he would be leaving Atletico and Barça swallowed their pride and made another offer for his services.
Griezmann would have cost just €100m last summer and this time it'll be €120m.
Atletico's poor season and the departures of key players, such as Godin and Juanfran, made the decision even easier for Griezmann this time around.
For Barça's part, they still see this as a 'steal' in the current market. No other world-class forward is available for such a low fee and Valverde has given his own seal of approval.
Griezmann will have to convince some members of the first team squad who were upset at his 'decision' last summer.
Right now Barça, Atletico and Griezmann all want the same thing. This should make negotiations quite straight forward and the only matter is organising the instalments of the deal. The plan is to match them with the payments Atletico need to make to Benfica for Joao Felix.
Barça are unable to front up the entire amount in a one-off payment.
Everything is expected to be resolved within a couple of weeks. The club is quick to stress that the arrival of Griezmann doesn't close the door on a deal for Neymar either.
Yet it does appear that Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho will need to be sold in order to balance the books.
