Barcelona secures first option on 5 Atletico Madrid players for €15m after Antoine Griezmann’s email ultimatum

Barcelona’s financial woes have been exacerbated by a costly deal struck under the management of Josep Maria Bartomeu, as details of the club’s dealings continue to surface. The latest revelation involves the €15m payment to Atletico Madrid, which was ostensibly to keep private emails between Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann from being made public. The staggering total cost of the Griezmann deal, amounting to an estimated €130m, has left the club reeling and facing significant financial challenges. This article delves into the ramifications of the deal and its impact on Barcelona’s financial stability, shedding light on a situation that continues to haunt the club.

Barcelona’s costly deal for Griezmann continues to haunt the club, with new details emerging about the €15m payment made to Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana initially paid €120m for the French star’s release clause in 2019, but it has now been revealed that they also agreed to a €15m payment to keep their correspondence regarding Griezmann’s transfer quiet. Despite never using the options obtained in the deal, the total cost for Barcelona comes to an incredible €53-55m per season, plus his €38m per year gross salary. The financial ramifications of this deal, combined with the impact of the pandemic on the club’s finances, continue to weigh heavily on Barcelona. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid’s ability to afford their title challenge may have been bolstered by the funds received from the Griezmann deal.