Barcelona have gathered the €120m to trigger Antoine Griezmann’s release clause which will be triggered on Friday, say Diario AS.
Numerous Spanish media cite that ‘the soap opera is coming to an end’ with the transfer set to be processed in its entirety.
The long-anticipated move has been delayed as the Blaugrana were initially refusing to pay the player’s clause and were instead attempting to structure a deal involving separate payments.
The forward’s release clause dropped from €200m to €120m on 1 July but the Catalan giants have failed to deposit the specified amount in a lump sum payment, and instead would prefer to pay in instalments.
The move has turned increasingly sour with Atleti reportedly set to internally discipline the forward for not turning up for the start of the club’s pre-season training.
It is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between the parties with the Frenchman attempting to force through a move to the Catalan giants.
Los Rojiblancos will not negotiate on any sale for the player below his clause, with reports that he reached a contractual agreement with Barca in March – just days before Atleti’s Champions League exit.
Griezmann stated at the end of last season that he would be leaving the capital club this summer as he appeared set to join the Blaugrana, whom he rejected last summer before signing a long-term contract extension with Diego Simeone’s side.
Atleti have already signed forward Joao Felix from Benfica, who will theoretically replace Griezmann, while Paris Saint-Germain were previously linked to the Frenchman.
