Atletico Madrid News
Barcelona president confirms the fee Atletico Madrid will pay for Griezmann: “Good deal”
Antoine Griezmann has been in the headlines recently, with various reports across Spain suggesting that the Frenchman is set to make his transfer to Atletico Madrid permanent..
The club from the capital are expected to pay a fee of around €20 million, which is half of what they had initially agreed with Barcelona. But there is also an additional €4 million add-ons embedded in the deal.
Although the clubs are yet to officially announce the deal, their board members, along with Xavi have confirmed the agreement recently.
Xavi has already wished Griezmann luck in his future endeavours while sporting director Mateu Alemany stressed the importance of the Frenchman’s departure from Camp Nou.
Barcelona club president Joan Laporta has now joined the bandwagon, hailing the club for conducting good business by selling Griezmann. The president also has confirmed the exact figures of the deal.
“Griezmann is a good deal. €20 milllion fixed and €4 million in add-ons,” said Laporta, who has played a key role in reversing all the underwhelming investments made by the previous regime led by Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Griezmann’s sale comes in the aftermath of a brief battle between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid after the latter opted to limit the player’s game-time in order to avoid paying the €40 million mandatory buyout clause at the end of the season.
The only condition behind the clause stated that Griezmann had to play at least 45 minutes of the 50% of matches where he is available.
Barcelona tried to seek legal measures to sanction Atletico Madrid, but have opted to come to an agreement on a lower fee, which may still benefit the club, according to the sporting director Mateu Alemany.
Griezmann’s permanent move to the Civitas Metropolitano could break the shackles and allow Diego Simeone to utilise his services on a more frequent basis. With a strenuous schedule coming up, the Frenchman’s experience and quality could play an integral role in the club’s fate over the coming weeks.
Source: BarçaTV+
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea contact PSG midfielder’s agent with player set to leave
Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are among the clubs that have made contact with the agent of PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes, who is set to leave this summer.
This claim comes from journalist Martin Arevalo on ESPN, who states that apart from Atletico and Chelsea, an unnamed third club have also established contact with the Argentine international’s representative.
Paredes has been on PSG’s books since January 2019, when he arrived from Zenit St. Petersburg. For a large part of his time at the French capital outfit, the midfielder had been a regular starter in the side.
However, last summer saw Paredes get shipped out on loan to Juventus. He has played 33 times for the Bianconeri this season with a return of one goal and assist apiece.
The Serie A heavyweights, who were recently hit with a 10-point deduction, have the option to purchase him permanently. But, as per the report, his relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri is not good and a return to PSG is on the cards.
And considering that he is not in the plans back at Parc des Princes either, a permanent departure away seems set in stone for Paredes.
As such, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and an unnamed club have shown interest in acquiring his services by making contact with the 28-year-old World Cup winner’s agent.
With Koke entering the final phase of his career and Geoffrey Kondogbia expected to leave at the end of the season, the Rojiblancos could do with reinforcements in the centre of the park.
Paredes, who has plenty of experience at the highest level and is known for his aggressive mentality, can be a good fit into Diego Simeone’s setup at the Civitas Metropolitano.
But, with Chelsea also in the picture, things could get tricky for the Colchoneros. After all, Atleti are operating on tight finances and are looking for bargain and free transfer signings in the market with the likes of Marcus Thuram, Jordi Alba, and Raphael Guerreiro emerging as targets.
