Moretto, Romero and many others cleared it in June this year. I had same confusion too and it was cleared.
The links you provided cite Sport, older articles or people who interpreted it their own.
The way announcement worded it was very confusing, and many thought it was done the way you described.
After the year, and after it was done it was already confirmed it isn't this way. Atletico have no choice to not buy him, not anymore.
And Atletico trying to lower price makes perfect sense mate.
We already offered that to sell him now, because we want money now.
OTOH , Atletico can try that now and find a taker for him, rather than screwing next summer for them.
And a quick reminder that same Atletico bullshit happened with Morata, with Atletico trying to claim there was no obligation to buy and it ended up they were liars