Barcelona keen on Dembele's exit
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FC Barcelona's Coach Xavi Hernandez reiterates the club's stance on French player Ousmane Dembele exiting the Camp Nou before January 31.
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The player's contract expires in the summer and talks over a new deal with his agents have broken down.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez affirmed Saturday the club would not soften their stance on Ousmane Dembele's contract situation, despite the Frenchman's angry response on social media on Thursday.
Dembele wrote he would not "give in to blackmail" after Xavi left him out of his squad to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night.
The player's contract expires in the summer and talks over a new deal with his agents have broken down.
Barca have been desperate to avoid Dembele leaving for free. With debts of over a billion euros, the club could gain a fee for the 24-year-old if he is sold in the current transfer window.
The club's director of football Mateu Alemany said on Thursday morning "it seems obvious to us that the player does not want to continue at Barcelona" and "therefore we hope that a transfer will take place before January 31."
In a press conference ahead of Sunday’s game away at Alaves, Xavi pointed out that "Dembele's situation hasn't changed. He knows what the options are and he has to decide."
Dembele, who joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 in a deal worth 140 million euros ($158.9 million), was left out of the squad to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night.
The French player has suffered numerous injuries in recent years and has largely been a huge disappointment at Barcelona.
Yet after losing several key players to reduce the club's debts, Barca have been keen to keep Dembele, who despite his many setbacks remains one of their most talented players.
