Xavi Hernández is very disappointed with Ousmane Dembélé. The Blaugrana coach, who has been a staunch defender of the French winger since he landed at the club, “He can be the best in the world in his position”, came to secure the day of his presentation, held several individual meetings with the striker throughout these two months to learn about his future plans. In each and every one of the appointments, Dembélé assured him that his absolute priority was to renew, especially after hearing from the coach the sports project he had in mind for him, where he would be one of the team’s offensive pillars.
However, these good words ended up being diluted when the player’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, met with the director of football, Mateu Alemany: the story changed substantially, with threats, arrogance and bad gestures as a common denominator.
Barcelona, fed up with so much inconsistency and lack of respect, gave their agent an ultimatum: before January 15 they had to respond to the last renewal offer. The response could not be more insulting for the club, since Sissoko claimed a ‘crack’ deal for Ousmane, claiming 200 million for five seasons of salary, plus 40 million more in commissions and transfer bonus.
Evidently, Alemany closed the matter, withdrawing the renewal offer and summoning the player to a new meeting where the next steps would be communicated to him, where there is even the threat that he will not play another game as a Blaugrana if he remains at the club until June 30.
As you have been able to find out AS, Xavi is very hurt with the player: he considers that he has a very toxic environment, especially an agent who has shown that he thinks very little about his client’s sporting benefits and a lot about his pocket. In no case will the coach leave Ousmane in the stands for six months, although he is aware that the best solution, given the circumstances, is for him to leave this January. Firstly, because it would free up wage bills and allow them to deal with some ongoing operation, and secondly, because it would be very difficult to manage Dembélé’s appearances, especially considering the adverse reception he would have at the Camp Nou, where he would be booed at every ball that touched
Right now, The coach is in favor of seeking an agreed exit this January and preventing the situation from becoming entrenched for six months, which could be made eternal for both the player and the club.