Atletico Madrid are “preparing to report Barcelona to Fifa” over their pursuit of Antoine Griezmann.
The French forward has been heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp next summer. Mundo Deportivo reported on Sunday that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has met with the Griezmann’s family to discuss a €100m transfer at the end of the season. Barcelona’s director of institutional relations, Guillermo Amor, then added to the rumours when he claimed that it is “possible” Griezmann had been approached.
“Maybe there’s been a meeting and things have advanced, although I don’t know,” Amor said
“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.”
According to The Independent, Atletico are “angered” by the public pursuit of Griezmann by their La Liga rivals, and are now preparing to make an official complaint to Fifa. Some Barcelona players, such as Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez, have also spoke about the player potentially moving to the Nou Camp, and all signs point towards him joining Barcelona.
The 26-year-old forward was linked with a move to Manchester United for most of last season, but remained in Madrid, as Atletico’s transfer ban means they can’t register new players until the window opens next month. According to the Independent’s report, United and Atletico both expect Griezmann to sign for Barcelona next summer.
