Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are currently facing a legal battle surrounding the loan of Antoine Griezmann that has become the centre of attention in Spanish football in recent weeks.
It appears Atleti are prepared to circumnavigate the clause of the loan deal that will force them to pay €40 million for Griezmann if he plays more than 50% of the available matches.
But with matches only being counted if Griezmann features in at least 45 minutes of a particular game, Atletico Madrid have not started him even once in any competition this season, with Diego Simeone often opting to bring him on after the hour mark.
Reacting to the situation, Jordi Cruyff, the global sports director of FC Barcelona, suggests the fate of Griezmann is entirely up to Atletico Madrid and there is very little the Catalans can do about it.
“Right now he is an Atlético de Madrid player. He plays there and the coach decides what he has to play,” Cruyff said (h/t Victor Navarro).
The Dutchman went on to point out the fact that Griezmann has been brought on only after the 63rd minute in matches this season, adding: “It’s funny, always 63. The decision is theirs”.
Even though FC Barcelona are seeking every legal measure to intervene and prevent Atletico Madrid from exploiting the loophole in the loan contract, Cruyff’s comments serve as yet another indicator of the fact that the Catalans are almost powerless in this situation.
The legal standoff, though, could potentially lead to the two clubs seeking renewed terms that could see Barcelona lowering the overall release clause.
Recent reports suggest the Blaugrana could lower the asking price to €25 million, although the two clubs are yet to push forward any negotiations. Given the disagreement between the two parties, it will not come as a surprise to see this saga drag on for quite some time.