Atletico Madrid to report Barcelona to Fifa over illegal transfer approach for Antoine Griezmann

Barca director Guillermo Amor's statements this week pushed Atleti into action, despite widespread belief Griezmann will end up at the Nou Camp next season

Ed Malyon
Sports Editor
Tuesday 19 December 2017 09:33 EST
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Griezmann is the subject of strong interest from the Spanish league leaders
Griezmann is the subject of strong interest from the Spanish league leaders (Getty)

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Atletico Madrid are preparing to present an official complaint to Fifa over Barcelona's pursuit of French forward Antoine Griezmann.

The Rojiblancos are understood be angered by Barca's increasingly public pursuit of their star striker, with a director of the Catalan club recently admitting there had been contact with the player who is still under contract to the Madrid side.

"If Bartomeu met with Griezmann's family as the newspapers say, then there may well have been an approach," Guillermo Amor admitted. "Though, I don't know anything for sure.

"There is a good relationship, there can also be comfortable conversations. Rumours are inevitable in the football world.

"In Griezmann's case there are many people we talk to; it's our obligation to have contact with players."

Sources at Atleti and former suitors Manchester United told The Independent that the 26-year-old frontman is expected to sign for the Nou Camp club next summer, but should Fifa decide to act then the deal could be in danger.

This is not even the first time this month that Barcelona have been the subject of a complaint like this, with Club World Cup runners-up Gremio filing a grievance over pictures of their prize starlet, Arthur, posing with Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez in the club's shirt.

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