Griezmann returns to Atletico Madrid in a surreal market closure; Saul will play for Chelsea

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BARCELONA – Antoine Griezmann leaves Barcelona after the Barça club reached an agreement with Atlético de Madrid, for the transfer of the French striker to two seasons, acquiring the mattress club a mandatory purchase option in 2023 of 40 million euros. Atlético will also be in charge of the player’s salary, who received the news concentrated with the French team.

The operation was completed after a day between surreal and dramatic and did not close until well past midnight, the deadline set by Laliga, because although the two clubs processed all the documentation with the employer in time , presenting it in its entirety minutes before twelve, was all pending the approval of the organization chaired by Javier Tebas until the departure of Saül Ñiguez, from Atlético, to Chelsea … And that it did not close until this deadline had been exceeded, at which point it was permanently unblocked 43 minutes after the official closing of the market.

Griezmann’s return to Atlético was catapulted to the stage in the last two days, little seen by Atlético itself when it was speculated through an exchange with Joao Fèlix, who did not agree to negotiate the Madrid entity but which accelerated as much as agreed the departure of Saúl Ñíguez bound for London.

For Barça, which in the previous hours closed the transfers of Emerson Royal to Tottenham and Ilaix Moriba to Leipzig, to accumulate revenues in excess of $ 100 million by adding the names of Junior Firpo, Aleñá, Akieme, Konrad, Todibo or Trincao .

The 29-year-old French striker arrived at the Camp Nou in the summer of 2019 for the 120 million euros set out in his termination clause with Atlético, a year after he first rejected the same operation. In his two seasons at Barça (and the beginning of the present) Griezmann’s performance fell far short of expectations, adding up to a total of 102 games in which he scored 30 goals but never reached the brilliance he enjoyed in the his first stage as a mattress maker.

BY SURPRISE

Griezmann’s departure did not materialize until the last day of the market … And after a summer full of speculation that began on July 14, when a negotiation between Barça and Barça was catapulted into the plan. Athletic in which an exchange between the Gallic striker and Saúl was contemplated, that this same Tuesday ended up closing its exit destined to Chelsea. The difference in valuation between the two players made the agreement impossible, but since then it has become clear that the striker’s stay at the Camp Nou was by no means assured.

The Barça club, whether from the offices, the sports management and Ronald Koeman himself, transferred his absolute confidence to him, considering him indisputable in the squad and, once the departure of Leo Messi took shape, considering how one of the key players on the team. But the economic situation continually kept a change of scenery in the plan.

Griezmann began the official season as a starter and, in fact, completed the first three league games against Real Sociedad, Athletic and Getafe, catapulting after this last meeting, and by absolute surprise, his club departure.

Barcelona, ​​initially looking to strengthen their lead while reducing too much salary and earning money for a transfer, contemplated in the last hours of Monday an exchange operation for Joao Félix with Atlético de Madrid, the answer was negative … As for detaching from the young Portuguese footballer but receptive to negotiating a return of the Frenchman to the mattress club.

This Tuesday the contacts between the two clubs were accentuated, before the stupor of the same soccer player, who knew the situation while he was concentrated with the selection of his country. Sources close to Griezmann himself were first surprised at ESPN Esports for the matter and then, knowing the movements of Barcelona, ​​open to change, depending on conditions and knowing that Diego Simeone sponsored this return in the first place person.

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