Griezmann unhappy with Barcelona over loan deal
FT Desk
- 4 Sept 2022 10:28 BST
- 3 min read
Antoine Griezmann is playing restricted minutes for Atletico Madrid on loan from Barcelona this season, and it's not because of his ability...
Griezmann is midway through a two-year loan deal from Barcelona and last year started 28 games in all competitions, contributing eight goals and six assists.
But he has come off the bench for each of Atletico's first three games in the new La Liga season, playing less than half an hour each time.
4 years ago today, Griezmann did this 🤯pic.twitter.com/M4TI4LoJp8
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 28, 2022
He has scored in two of those three games - in wins over Getafe and Valencia - but his agent has now been quoted by Marca as saying: "We're not here for 30 minutes."
Atletico need to make Griezmann's loan deal from Barca permanent for €40m if he plays at least 45 minutes in 50 per cent of the available games this season.
Griezmann's fee
Griezmann's agent Hector Fernandez is trying to renegotiate that fee, as it is a figure that would see Atletico fall foul of La Liga's financial regulations, but those upstairs at Camp Nou are thus far holding firm.
Diego Simeone has been Atletico manager for 11 years, and also enjoyed two spells with them as a battling midfielder in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is happy to tow the club's line, even if he would like to use Griezmann more often.
"You have known me for 10 years now," he told Spanish media recently. "I'm a man of the club and always will be."
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Griezmann's frustration is understandable. Not only is he a world class operator on his day, he is also a French World Cup winner who needs to be playing regularly to guarantee his place in Didier Deschamps' squad for Qatar this winter.
Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona are now exploring the legality of what Atletico are trying to do. It appears the Greizmann situation is set to rumble on for some time yet.
