(Barcelona) End of suspense: French international winger Ousmane Dembélé, whose contract with FC Barcelona expired on June 30, has extended in the Catalan club until 2024, the end of a six-month soap opera in form roller coaster.
Posted at 7:19
In January, Xavi dismissed Dembélé from the Blaugrana group and gave him an ultimatum: extend or leave. But in six months, the Blaugrana leaders have turned around, and the two parties have managed to reach an agreement.
According to the press, Dembélé, who joined Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund, agreed to lower his salary expectations to enter the nails of the Catalan club, in economic difficulties.
And Barça, with the sale of 10% of its audiovisual rights to the American company Sixth Street for a period of 25 years in exchange for 207.5 million euros (the club is also about to sell fifteen other percent for 330 million euros), got a welcome influx of money to get closer to the player’s demands.
With the arrivals of Franck Kessié, Andreas Christensen (free) and Raphinha (70 million euros with bonus), the extension of Dembélé falls as the fourth good catch of the Catalan leaders this summer. Enough to strengthen Barça for its return to the Champions League.
Hot and cold
In six months, the situation has changed completely. Injured at the start of the season, after the disinsertion of the tendon of the femoral biceps at the level of the right knee which he suffered against Hungary at the Euro in June 2021, Dembélé began to come back in force in 2022, as soon as Xavi decided to reintegrate him into the group.
Put in the fight with Adama Traoré, who arrived in the winter on loan for six months, Ousmane Dembélé was whistled, booed by Camp Nou on his return, and greeted by angry supporters in training.
But he managed to keep his position as a manager… and even better: he finished best assist provider of the season in La Liga with 13 assists in 21 games, ahead of his compatriot Karim Benzema (12, but in 32 games!).
The Frenchman’s talent, his speed and his ability to destabilize defenses in a flash forced Xavi to reconsider his posture vis-à-vis the former Rennais. Little by little, Xavi became the winger’s main defender, and he even asked the directors to make an effort to try to extend him, which ended up being done.
Horizon Qatar?
On April 4, Barça leaders traveled to Marrakech (Morocco) to meet the player’s agent, Moussa Sissoko. It was a turning point in the negotiations: at that time, nothing had yet been finalized, but the discussion had resumed between the two parties and the relationship slowly warmed up.
Even if the arrival of Raphinha, Barça’s flagship off-season rookie, should still put Dembélé in the balance as right winger, the Frenchman, who seems to have left his injury tunnel, now counts on the full confidence of his coach, and he is considered an executive in the locker room.
The objective of the 2018 world champion is also to continue to shine with a very exposed club to try to regain his place in the French team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (November 21 – December 18, 2022).
Dembélé has not played in Blue since his exit through injury against Hungary at the Euro.