Soccer

Atlético Madrid report Barcelona to Fifa over Antoine Griezmann approach

Barça reported to have already held talks with France striker’s entourage

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has a release clause in his contract set at €100 million but Barcelona have been linked with a January approach for the forward signed from Real Sociedad in 2014. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Ed Aarons
Tue Dec 19 2017 - 16:39

Atlético Madrid have reported Barcelona to Fifa for making an illegal approach for France striker Antoine Griezmann.

Griezmann, who signed a new contract with Atlético in the summer lasting until 2021 to ward off interest from Manchester United, has been the subject of increased speculation over recent days after Barça's director of institutional relations hinted over the weekend that it was "possible" president Josep Maria Bartomeu had held talks with the 26-year-old's family. Fifa's rules insist that any teams who would like to sign a player must first make contact with his current club before being allowed to hold negotiations.

“Atlético Madrid have reported Barcelona for repeated contact with Griezmann and his people, contact which we are aware of,” a spokesman for Atlético told Mundo Deportivo on Tuesday. “He is a player with a contract with Atletico Madrid and a long contract at that.”

Griezmann has a release clause in his contract set at €100 million but Barcelona have been linked with a January approach for the forward signed from Real Sociedad in 2014. A report last week suggested that Barça's technical director, Roberto Fernández, had already held talks with the Frenchman's entourage, with Guillermo Amor later admitting the club is interested in signing him.

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“If that’s what the newspaper said, it’s possible...” Amor told Movistar+. “Maybe there’s been a meeting and things have advanced, although I don’t know. There’s a good understanding, maybe there have been talks.

“Rumours are inevitable in football. In the case of Griezmann, there are a lot of players we could be talking with, initiating some kind of relationship with if there’s an opportunity. We’re obliged to have contact with players. It’s something which is done.”

Unbeaten Atlético are currently second in La Liga table, six points behind leaders Barcelona and their spokesman also suggested that the approach for Griezmann "may violate the current competition of La Liga in which both teams are now in the first and second positions of the table fighting for the same prize."

Fifa has since confirmed it has received Atlético’s complaint.

Guardian

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