Atletico's plan with Griezmann and why they believe they are right

The Antoine Griezmann saga continue and is becoming one of the 'attractions' of the current season. It's already almost a tradition to see the Frenchman getting ready to come on for Atletico Madrid just after the 60th minute. All because of the clause in the contractual agreement between Barcelona and Atletico regarding the deal being made permanent. Atletico will have to pay €40 million for Griezmann if he plays 45 minutes of more in 50% of the games he is available for.

That is the short version. The longer version is more complicated and there is doubt about how that is broken down given he is in the second year of a two-year loan. Barça have suggested he has already fulfilled the criteria by playing enough minutes in 30 of 37 games last season. But could it be in each season? Or over both seasons?

According to El Larguero, the case is as follows: The contract affirms that Atletico have to pay €40m to Barcelona if he has played more than 50% of the games he is available for when the loan ends (a game is 45 minutes or more). That's to say, across the two years. And that is how Atletico see it and why they are not playing him for more than 30 minutes, with coach Diego Simeone a "club man" executing the strategy.

THE OFFER

Per the radio show, Atletico offered Barça €20m in the summer and the Catalan club said no, pointing to the contract. Atletico's board and Simeone are on the same page on the issue. So far this season, not including added time, which could be another grey area, Griezmann has played the following minute in LaLiga and the Champions League: Getafe 28′, Villarreal 28′, Valencia 26′, Real Sociedad 27′, Celta 27′, Porto, 29′, Leverkusen 27'.