Barcelona confirm they had to take out £31.5m LOAN to buy Antoine Griezmann… raising doubts over potential Neymar transfer
BARCELONA have grudgingly admitted they had to take out a huge £31.5million LOAN to sign £108m Antoine Griezmann.
The move indicates they will struggle to re-sign former star Neymar, who they sold to Paris Saint-Germain for a world record £195m in 2017.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed the financial situation around signing the World Cup winner was not straightforward.
He said: "The club has taken out a six-month unsecured loan for €35m and the remaining €85m [is funded by] anticipating payments yet to be received."
Barca have essentially used the fact that they are guaranteed payments for players they have sold to leverage buying Griezmann.
The club bought out the 28-year-old's contract by making the payment at La Liga's offices.
Barcelona then unveiled Griezmann in their new shirt — but Atletico released a statement claiming they had "begun appropriate procedures" against their La Liga rivals.
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Atletico Madrid fans later vandalised his plaque at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in fury.
The striker has signed a five-year contract including a £720MILLION release clause.
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He then joined in training, only to get nutmegged TWICE — but immediately saw the funny side of it.
According to reports, the club are now a staggering £800m in debt, suggesting they may need to sell players in order to service what they owe.
Philippe Coutinho cost Barca £145m, while Ousmane Dembele could rise to £97m rising to £138m.