Ousmane Dembele has been instructed to find a new club by Barcelona after contract talks between the two parties failed to find an agreement.
Barca boss Xavi Hernandez feels cheated by the Frenchman and the player was handed a final warning by the coach on Wednesday in what appeared to be a transfer ultimatum.
The Catalan club have already completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City this month in what appears to be a direct replacement for Dembele in the squad.
Last week, Barca boss Xavi Hernandez struck an optimistic tone when asked about Dembele’s future but his mood on the situation has since drastically changed.
Dembele has now been left out of the squad for Thursday night’s Copa del Rey trip to Athletic Bilbao and he appears to have played his final game for the club.
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Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany confirmed on Thursday that the club were no longer planning with the forward.
Alemany told reporters: “We understand Dembele's decision is to not stay at the club and we have communicated our decision (to leave him out of the trip to Bilbao).
“We want players that are committed to the club and we have told him he has to leave the club as soon as possible.”
Dembele is out of contract at the Camp Nou in June but the club are now hopeful of cashing-in on the player for a cut-price deal this month rather than allow him to leave as a free agent.
The Catalan club are unwilling to pay the remaining five months on the player’s contract and indeed their negotiation process had been attempting to slash the player’s wage.
Dembele is likely to attract significant interest from clubs and particularly those in the Premier League, who may believe he represents a bargain.
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.
Xavi told reporters on Wednesday: “It is a difficult situation with Dembele.
“The club have decided that if he does not renew, we have to look for a solution because they have been waiting too long.
“It has been five months that (sporting director, Mateu Alemany) has been speaking with the agents. Either he renews, or we look for a solution.
“The message is clear: either Dembele renews or we look for an exit for the player – there is nothing else left for it.
“I don’t consider sending him to stands. He says he wants to stay but then he does not sign.
“It is a shame.”
Dembele’s representative Moussa Sissoko has continually been critical of Barca’s approach to the negotiation process.
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.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have been among the clubs linked with a possible move for the Frenchman.
