Atletico boss confirmed: Griezmann moves to FC Barcelona

Antoine Griezmann is moving from Atletico Madrid to FC Barcelona for the coming season. This was confirmed by Atleticos Managing Director Angel Gil Marin on Wednesday evening.

“We have known since March that Griezmann will switch to Barça,” said the 55-year-old on the sidelines of an event of sport . Griezmann himself had made a big secret about his sporting future on Tuesday evening after the 4:0 victory of the French national team in Andorra.

“I’m the first to want my future decided, but it takes patience. I don’t know if I’ll stay in the Spanish league, but in two weeks we’ll know more,” Griezmann said.

Only last year, the 28-year-old rejected an offer from the Catalans and extended his contract with Atletico until 2023 in the course of a self-initiated TV show. In that contract, an exit clause was fixed, which Griezmann and Barcelona now apparently make use of: From 1 July, the world champion may leave the Rojiblancos for the fixed redemption of 120 million euros. A sum that would make it the fifth most expensive transfer ever.

Already in mid-May Griezmann had announced that he would leave the Rojiblancos after “five incredible years with fantastic moments”: “I need a new challenge and I need to see other things”.

Griezmann joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014 for around 30 million euros and won the Europa League with the capital club last season. Griezmann also reached the 2016 Champions League final with Rojiblancos, which Atletico lost to Real Madrid on penalties.