Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 18:20• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 18:30

There is a huge chance that Antoine Griezmann and Saúl Ñíguez will switch employers. Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are almost in agreement on an exchange deal between the two players, the usually well-informed assures Cadena COPE. Griezmann and Saúl have already given their approval to the impending agreement. The reporting does not mention a possible transfer fee that either club could pay for the exchange deal.

Griezmann is currently on holiday in Ibiza, where Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke has also settled after the European Championship. Griezmann is waiting from his holiday address for the decisive call from Atlético Madrid, the Spanish radio station knows. The French attacker has his former teammates from los Rojiblancos already announced that his return is imminent. Griezmann already played for Atlético between 2014 and 2019, before Barcelona signed him for 120 million euros.

Atlético Madrid has agreed with Griezmann, who will collect thirteen million euros net per year in the Spanish capital. For Barcelona, ​​the exchange deal is enormously cost-effective: Saúl receives an annual salary at the Camp Nou that is grossly twelve million euros lower than that of Griezmann. In addition, Barça saves sixty to seventy million euros in depreciation on the thirty-year-old attacker. Saúl is three and a half years younger and therefore probably represents a higher transfer value.

For Barcelona, ​​Saúl is a welcome reinforcement in midfield after Georginio Wijnaldum’s arrival bounced off at the last minute. The Catalans have already brought in two new attackers with Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero, so that Griezmann’s departure can be absorbed. The latter experienced some adjustment problems and in his two seasons with Barcelona never managed to take his top form from his time at Atlético. Griezmann has 35 goals and 17 assists in 99 official games for Barca.

Saúl personally did not have a great season with Atlético Madrid, although he was assured of a starting place in the vast majority of games. The midfielder, who broke through from the youth academy in Madrid in 2012, played a total of 337 official games for Atlético, scoring 43 times and preparing 19 goals. Saúl has previously hinted that he is open to a departure and has also been linked to Liverpool in recent times.