See Reason Why  Griezmann Plays  30 Minutes Per Game At Atletico Madrid

The two clubs agreed to a two-year loan agreement in which Griezmann would be contractually obligated to pay Barcelona 40 million euros if he played more than 45 minutes in more than 50% of the games.

Sighs of relief all around, not least from Barcelona, who have now saved themselves the 38 million euros per year they were paying Griezmann and will have to continue to pay him if he returns. His contract with Barcelona runs until June 30, 2024.

Griezmann played more than 80% of the minutes last season. If he plays a similar amount this season, Atletico's obligation will kick in very soon.

Griezmann is on a two-year loan from Barcelona with an obligatory €40 million purchase clause at the end if he plays more than 45 minutes in half of the games

The solution? For the French forward to come on from the 60th minute onwards, thereby guaranteeing that his appearances do not count as a full game and the percentage decreases below 50%

Griezmann had appeared as a substitute in every game up until Sunday's derby. The minute he appears in these games explains everything - 62, 62, 64, 63, 61, 63, 62. The percentage of minutes played during the loan period was approaching 70%.

Simeone said after the Porto Champions League game, with his tongue firmly pressed against his cheek, "The reality is that he is doing very well playing 30 minutes, we don't know how he will do if he plays 60."

Everyone knows where they stand now, and Simeone has given up trying to persuade us that his decision to delay the introduction of his most talismanic player until the final half hour is nothing more than a ploy  "I am a club man," the manager has said about the matter.

The problem is that, despite starting against Real, Griezmann is becoming increasingly irritated with being used as a financial pawn in this high-stakes 'Mexican stand-off' between the clubs, but he is remaining professional about it, and when he plays, he does so with the enthusiasm of a newcomer. Contrary to popular belief, Griezmann never agreed not to play from the start; he simply obeys orders.

Things appear to be coming to a head, with Barcelona threatening legal action last week via friendly members of the media, implying that what Atletico was doing was illegal.

The truth is, and Barcelona is well aware of it, that as the contract stands, Atletico are doing nothing wrong, and as long as he is on loan to them, they can play Griezmann as frequently or as infrequently as they want. But Atletico needs him because they are now eight points behind the leaders.

According to a recent article in the French newspaper L'Equipe, the two clubs are on the verge of agreeing on a 25 million euro deal that would relieve Barcelona of the potential financial burden while also allowing Atletico to have unlimited access to the player.

Atletico denies they are close to a deal, while Barcelona is more optimistic.

This summer, Atletico Madrid offered Barcelona 20 million euros to end the saga. They did so with the knowledge that Barcelona did not want to pay Griezmann's wages anytime soon, and they also knew that Barcelona had already factored in the arrival of this 40 million euros among the elaborate asset sales, convoluted loan arrangements, and number crunching that has been going on at the club.

Atletico's offer was rejected outright, and they were reminded by Barcelona that they should stick to the contract, which the Madrid club would argue they are doing. They may come to regret the day.

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo summed up the feelings of everyone at the club on Griezmann: "We have not met with Barcelona nor do we intend to do so. Griezmann story is pretty clear.

"At the moment we are at the same point, nothing has changed with FCB [Barcelona] on Griezmann - same as beginning of the season."

Griezmann is pleased to have started against Real Madrid, but he wants more of the same.

His lawyer is handling the situation, and while there is no movement at the moment, as Atletico's president stated, the three parties recognize that a solution must be found relatively soon.

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