French playmaker, Antoine Griezmann has joined Barcelona from Atlético Madrid after the Barca announced they had paid his €120m (£107.6m) buyout fee.
The 28-year-old forward will sign a five-year contract that ties him to the Camp Nou until 30 June 2024 even as Atlético still believe they are owed €80m more Griezmann.
Atlético claims Griezmann made an agreement to join Barcelona before July, when the buyout clause was still set at €200m, and have announced their intention to take the Spanish champions to court.
“Atlético de Madrid believes that the amount deposited is insufficient to meet its rescission clause, since it is obvious that the commitment of the player and that of Football Club Barcelona was closed before the aforementioned clause was reduced from €200m to €120m [on 1 July].
“It was also prior to the date on which the clause was modified the communication that the player made on 14 May announcing his disengagement from the club.” the statement read.
“With his arrival at FC Barcelona, the Frenchman takes another step forward in his career with the goal of consolidating his place as one of the best players in the world,” the Spanish league champions said in a statement. Griezmann’s contract with Barça will have a buyout clause of €800m, they added.
