Ousmane Dembele has reportedly been hailed as ‘an example’ to the rest of the Barcelona squad by the club’s boss Xavi Hernandez.
It represents a significant change in heart from the coach as back in January, Xavi had claimed he felt cheated by the Frenchman and the player was handed a final warning by the coach last week in what appeared to be a transfer ultimatum. Barca were subsequently hit with a legal warning the same day after a threat was made by sporting director Mateu Alemany that the player has been told that “he must leave the club as soon as possible.”
The Catalan club have already completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City before adding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal – moves that were thought to signal the end of Dembele’s time at the Camp Nou. Indeed, Barca fans had appeared to turn on the player as they vented their frustration at the Frenchman in his first home appearance after the January transfer window closed.
Yet there now appears to have been a change of heart both from the club’s fans and from boss Xavi, with Spanish TV station La Sexta claiming that during a frank discussion with his players – the coach held up the Frenchman as an example for attitude and work-rate. It is alleged that Xavi even said “he does not even have a contract” when referencing his future.
Dembele has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea among the clubs linked to his signature. The player’s agent Moussa Sissoko has been at the centre of his player’s future and he has been outspoken in his criticism of how Barca have handled his client’s future.
At the end of January, Sissoko was photographed arriving at Barcelona airport on, with TV images showing that the agent receiving a phone call from PSG sporting director Leonardo. It appeared to be another negotiating tactic from Sissoko but three months on, the player’s future remains in limbo.
Have Your Say! Should Barca offer Dembele a new contract? Tell us what you think here.
Dembele has been free to speak to other clubs since 1 January and agree a pre-contract due to his contract expiring on 30 June. Barca paid £105million – in a deal rising to a potential £135m – to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 in a transfer that has become symbolic of the club’s reckless transfer policy.
Dembele utilises his technical ability, speed, and agility to beat opponents and open defences – with his tactical adaptability also likely to be highly valued by many clubs. However his five-year stay at the Camp Nou has been marked by a series of muscular injuries and doubts over his ability to enjoy a prolonged run of fitness. He has started just 65 La Liga matches over the course of five season, averaging around a third of the club’s league outings in that timeframe.
