Antoine Griezmann
When Barcelona signed Antoine Griezmann for 120m Euros from Atletico Madrid a few months back, the Madrid based club felt they should have been paid a larger amount, owing to the release clause of the Frenchman on the date when an agreement was reached.
When Barcelona had approached the player, his release clause was 200 million Euros, which was later reduced in July.
Atletico Madrid had approached the Spanish FA (RFEF) to look into the matter and had claimed they were due to be paid a higher buyout clause value for the Frenchman as against the eventual 120 million. Barcelona have now been fined for their approach of Griezmann. But the amount, to a club a of such financial stature, was a mere 300 Euros.
“Taking into account the economic capacity of the club and the amount of the deal that has given rise to this case, this Committee is aware that the payment of 300 euros, beyond its merely symbolic nature (the fine is imposed because the expedited club has been considered the author of a disciplinary infraction), will not contribute to the particular sanctioned club and, probably, other clubs that may be in the future in the same situation, adapt their conduct to what is required by regulation,” RFEF said in a statement.
Whatever way he might have been approached, Griezmann has been extremely important to Barcelona this season so far. He might not have set the world alight on hi arrival, but his presence is a huge boost to the Catalans, who are currently struggling with injuries to their forwards. Most importantly their talismanic captain Lionel Messi is once again injured after having appeared very sporadically in the season so far. Messi walked off before the half time in what was his first start of the season against Villareal after coming off the bench on a couple of occasions.