Europe 1 with AFP 11:14 pm, August 31, 2021

According to "L'Équipe", Antoine Griezmann is making his return to Atlético de Madrid after two mixed seasons at FC Barcelona.

The 30-year-old French playmaker, who first wore the Colchoneros jersey from 2014 to 2019, is on loan with an option to buy from the Blaugrana.

French international Antoine Griezmann returns to Atlético de Madrid after two seasons with FC Barcelona, ​​who loaned him with an option to buy in the final hours of the transfer market on Tuesday, according to

L'Equipe

. "Atlético de Madrid managed to bring Antoine Griezmann back on the last day of the transfer window," writes the sports daily. Neither of the two clubs had formalized this transaction Tuesday at one hour before the close of the market, scheduled for midnight.

This is another thunderclap in the summer market, after the signing of Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) at Paris Saint-Germain and another spectacular return, that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.

The leader of the Blues, 30, transferred two years earlier for 120 million euros, returns to the club where he exploded and of which he wore the jersey for five seasons (2014-2019).

Two European routs in two seasons

Currently with the France team for the international window in September, Griezmann managed his transfer from Clairefontaine, before flying to Strasbourg on Tuesday to face Bosnia on Wednesday (8:45 p.m.) as part of the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The world champion has only rarely shown with the "Blaugrana" the level he had displayed with the "Colchoneros".

In the shadow of Lionel Messi, he never found his place, and offered only brief glimpses of his talent.

He also experienced two routs in the Champions League, 8-2 in the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020 then 4-1 against Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou in the round of 16 this year.

In two seasons at Barça, Griezmann has won only one Copa del Rey (2021).

Barcelona lose third superstar after Suarez and Messi

After Luis Suarez, who left last summer to also join Atlético, after Lionel Messi, a free party to PSG three weeks ago, FC Barcelona, ​​heavily in debt, lost in the space of a year a third Super star.

This is the biggest operation of this hot last day of the summer transfer market for the Catalans, who have done everything to downsize their workforce and free up the payroll.