Antoine Griezmann has been waiting. Since the start of the season, the 2018 World Cup winner was used as a substitute after the hour mark. Not because he’s not good enough to play full 90 minutes, but due to an instruction given by the Atleti board to coach Diego Simeone – to send a message to Barca and put pressure on them.According to the loan agreement concluded between Atletico and Barca in the last hours of the 2021 transfer window, if the Frenchman takes part in 50% of the Madrid club’s matches over the two seasons, it will automatically trigger a transfer with the fee set at $40 million. But after a year, the management of Atletico, pressed by financial limitations, intended to re-negotiate a lower buy-out clause.A trial! Barcelona preparing a lawsuit against Atletico over GriezmannAccording to L’Equipe, Griezmann’s agents have been encouraging talks between the clubs so that the price would be lowered to $25 million, a fee that Atletico would be willing to pay. The agreement is close and could be made official during the upcoming international break. If that proves true, then Simeone will be able to pick Grizi as a starter again.##NAJAVA_MECA_6645836##That’s excellent news for the 31-year-old Frenchman, with the World Cup in Qatar now just two months away. But it would be good news for all parties involved as well. The player will be able to play more and make his excellent form count, Atletico won’t have to restrict the playing time of one of their best players, and Barcelona won’t have to keep the player they don’t want nor can afford to pay. Granted, the Catalans would receive a fee of $15 million less than what they were hoping for. But at least all parties would avoid further frustration and a situation that’s no good for anyone.🚨 Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are close to an agreement to lower the option to buy fee for Antoine Griezmann to €25m. 📉(Source: @Tanziloic) pic.twitter.com/PdzgWkynLq— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 13, 2022 During the recently-closed transfer window, Juventus, Manchester United and Arsenal all showed interest in Griezmann, but the striker refused all advances. He was happy to have returned to the club he loves a year ago and wouldn’t want to leave again.This return to normal expected in the coming weeks should also be a relief for France head coach Didier Deschamps. He never broke contact with his striker during this difficult period. Griezmann should therefore arrive at France’s national team training centre in Clairefontaine on Monday in a better mood but also physically fresh. The Frenchman’s season can finally begin.
