Atletico Madrid Ask La Liga Authorities To Block Griezmann

By Max Wise

Antoine Griezmann’s move to Barcelona may long have been completed but the rumblings surrounding his transfer is far from over after former club Atletico Madrid asked La Liga authorities to block the Frenchman’s registration.

Griezmann joined Barcelona on July 12 after the Camp Nou outfit activated his €120m release clause but Atletico Madrid released a statement shortly after, claiming the amount deposited was not enough.

Barcelona had to wait until the start of July when Griezmann’s release clause dropped from €200m to €120m before making their move but Atletico claim the Spanish champions reached an agreement with the former Real Sociedad player back in March.

On Wednesday, La Liga President Javier Tebas, confirmed that the Rojiblancos have asked for Griezmann’s registration to be withheld until Barcelona fork out the remaining €80m.

"Atletico have written [to La Liga] and asked whether or not we should provide a license for Griezmann at Barcelona,” Tebas told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

"There is the ability to block a player's license."

"There is a mechanism that has been put in place and it will be the bodies that must resolve the situation.

"I have no element of judgement."

Griezmann made his debut for Barcelona in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday.

Griezmann spent five years at Atletico Madrid after joining from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2014 and he scored 133 goals in 257 appearances, winning the Europa League, Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup in his time at the club.