During a press conference on Tuesday on the finances of the Catalan club, Joan Laporta addressed the case of the striker of the France team, criticizing the attitude of the player and his clan.
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The Ousmane Dembélé file remains burning in Catalonia. The French winger is one of the main players out of contract at the end of this season. His future even seems to lie far from Camp Nou, explained president Joan Laporta, during a press conference on the (catastrophic) financial situation of his club, Tuesday, February 1. “NOTWe think he has an agreement with another club. That’s what his agent insinuated” he asserted.
The Barça leader spoke of the last weeks of negotiations with the 2018 world champion, which remained unsuccessful. “We offered Dembélé an extension, with a very good offer. He told us that it was not a financial question. Then he came back and it turned out that it was a financial matter, that he wanted a bigger salary,” said Joan Laporta. “We did our best. We made two offers to him and they were good. We are very surprised that he didn’t accept.“
Ousmane Dembélé, who arrived in Catalonia in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund, could have packed his bags from the winter transfer window for a transfer fee. “We had one last offer from an English club, but Dembélé didn’t want it, he preferred to stay here for six months.“, specified the boss of Barça. “It’s not good for the player or for the club. Dembélé’s position is difficult to understand.“
The 24-year-old will therefore remain in Barça’s squad, despite a conflict with his leaders and stiff competition after the signings of Ferran Torres and Adama Traoré. Joan Laporta has made it clear that the player, who has one of the highest salaries at the club, is no longer in Barcelona’s plans. “Xavi works for the present and has to think about next season. We will act for the good of the club.”