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Antoine Griezmann's Eye-Watering €800m Release Clause Is Larger Than Lionel Messi's

Antoine Griezmann's Eye-Watering €800m Release Clause Is Larger Than Lionel Messi's

Barcelona finally signed ex-Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann on a five-year deal after being linked with the player for months.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Barcelona's mammoth release clause of €800m for Antoine Griezmann even eclipses Lionel Messi's buyout clause.

The Spanish champions landed the ex-Atletico Madrid ace, 28, on Friday after activating his €120m release clause and signed him on a five-year deal.

But the club are willing to secure their investment in the French World Cup winner and have inserted an astronomical €800m release clause in his contract.

The Barcelona new boy's €800m release clause is larger than the €700m one for Lionel Messi, whose contract with the club will expire in 2021.

Griezmann has the second-highest release clause in the world behind Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, whose buyout clause stands at an incredible €1billion.

PA
PA

Both Spanish clubs dominate the list for the ten players with the highest release clauses.

Behind Griezmann is the likes of Brahim Diaz and Luka Modric on enormous €750m release clauses.

Posted below are the players with the top ten release clauses.

  • Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): €500m
  • Gerard Pique (Barcelona): €500m
  • Lionel Messi (Barcelona): €700m
  • Isco (Real Madrid): €700m
  • Marco Asensio (Real Madrid): €700m
PA
  • Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid): €700m
  • Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid): €750m
  • Luka Modric (Real Madrid): €750m
  • Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona): €800m
  • Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): €1billion

Barcelona's acquisition of Griezmann made him the sixth most expensive signing in history behind Ousmane Dembele, Joao Felix, Philippe Coutinho, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

The French international's release clause dropped from €200m to €120m on 1st July, but Atletico are far from happy about the whole transfer saga.

PA

Los Rojiblancos claim that the transfer should have been €200m, saying that their former superstar and Barcelona were negotiating the deal when his price hadn't dropped.

"Griezmann, represented by his lawyer, has appeared at the headquarters of the Professional Football League to unilaterally terminate the contract that links the player with Atletico," reads a statement from the club.

"Atletico believes that the amount deposited is insufficient since it is obvious that the commitment of the player and Barcelona was closed before the aforementioned clause was reduced from 200 to 120 million euros.

"Atletico believes that the termination of the contract happened before the end of the last season and therefore has initiated procedures it has deemed appropriate to protect their rights and lawful interests."

Will Griezmann be a hit at Barcelona?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Vinicius Junior, Brahim Diaz, Isco, Football, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Gerard Pique, gareth bale, Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema, Real Madrid, La Liga, Luka Modric