Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona have been suspected of forging a fictitious agreement with Atletico Madrid in connection to Antoine Griezmann’s 2019 transfer
- The club allegedly paid Atletico Madrid 15 million euros to withhold evidence from the Royal Spanish Football Federation
- A judge has determined the Griezmann transaction should be included in a wider investigation into potential violations during the Bartomeu presidency
Background to the Investigation
Barcelona are currently at the centre of a probe that questions the legitimacy of their activities surrounding the 2019 transfer of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid. Reports from El Mundo have revealed suspicions that the Catalan side forged a fictitious arrangement with Atletico Madrid in order to obscure breaches of regulations tied to the transfer.
Financial Dealings and RFEF Concerns
According to legal documents cited in the investigation, Barcelona paid the Madrid club a sum of 15 million euros. This transaction was reportedly in exchange for Atletico refraining from supplying evidence to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) about direct negotiations with Griezmann. Emails uncovered as part of the ongoing probe allegedly indicate that Barcelona engaged in confidential discussions with the player without the required consent of his then-current club.
π¨ ππ₯πππππ‘π: A Barcelona court sees evidence of embezzlement and false accounting in BarΓ§a's signing of Antoine Griezmann.
β @elmundoes pic.twitter.com/0tyqpYfrqV
— The Touchline | π (@TouchlineX) October 16, 2025
The judge overseeing the case underlined that Atletico Madrid had previously brought a complaint to the RFEF over Barcelona’s approach to Griezmann between February and March 2019, a period during which Barcelona lacked the proper authorisation to engage the player.
| Transfer Involved | Year | Amount Paid to Atletico Madrid | Payer | Purpose Alleged by Court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antoine Griezmann | 2019 | 15,000,000 euros | Barcelona | To prevent Atletico from submitting evidence to RFEF |
Legal Findings and Alleged Fictitious Deal
The judicial ruling states: “To avoid potential sanctions from the RFEF, the investigated parties negotiated directly with Atletico and reached an agreement that included a payment of 15 million euros in exchange for not providing evidence for the current proceedings”.
Furthermore, the court highlighted that “in order to give the payments an appearance of legitimacy, a fictitious deal was made granting Barcelona priority rights over several Atletico players. These facts may constitute a crime of mismanagement or accounting fraud,” the judge concluded.
