Report: Antoine Griezmann's Release Clause to Be Triggered by Barcelona Friday

Barcelona will reportedly trigger Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann's €120 million release clause on Friday.

The Spanish champions are "settling the final details" and will pay the full amount after Atletico Madrid refused to negotiate, according to Luis F. Rojo at Marca.

Barcelona are hoping to get the deal done quickly and want to present Griezmann on Sunday before the club begins pre-season training on Monday.

Griezmann announced in May that he would be leaving Atletico Madrid in the summer and failed to join up with the club for pre-season training on Sunday.

The Rojiblancos have begun disciplinary proceedings against the FIFA World Cup winner and could fine him for his no-show, per the Guardian's Sid Lowe.

Griezmann is in Ibiza and has been "working hard alongside his own personal trainer" in an effort to be in good shape for the new season, according to Sport's David Salinas. 

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid have already moved to bring in a replacement, signing Joao Felix from Benfica and handing him Griezmann's No. 7 shirt:

Griezmann's move to Barcelona will end a long-running transfer saga. He was close to joining the club in the summer of 2018 but announced he would be staying at Atletico in his infamous La Decision documentary.

Yet speculation over a move to Barcelona has refused to go away. Atletico chief executive officer Gil Marin recently told Movistar he has "known since March" the forward would join the Catalan giants (h/t Marca).

Griezmann will add to Barcelona's attacking options, giving manager Ernesto Valverde a potential selection headache, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele, Malcom and Philippe Coutinho already in the squad.

WhoScored.com noted how influential Griezmann has been at Atletico:

Barcelona will also be hoping Griezmann can help the club claim glory in the UEFA Champions League after painful defeats to Roma and Liverpool in the past two seasons.

Yet the French forward will have to win over supporters if he does seal a move to Barcelona. His rejection of the club last summer saw him booed at the Camp Nou during Atletico's 2-0 defeat in April, per Mark Doyle at Goal.