Latest Barcelona News: The unexpected departure of Ousmane Dembélé from Barcelona has left the club in shock, particularly affecting coach Xavi Hernández, who had been a staunch supporter of the French winger throughout his tumultuous journey.
After an impressive preseason, Dembélé dropped a bombshell during the team’s concentration in Dallas following the victory against Real Madrid, revealing his desire to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and pursue new challenges in the upcoming season.
Xavi had considered Dembélé a crucial asset in the team’s offensive lineup, valuing his speed, verticality, and ability to excel in one-on-one situations. The young forward’s resurgence as a footballer had impressed the coach, and Dembélé had even expressed his ambition to win the Champions League with Barcelona after clinching the La Liga title in the previous season.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn after the match against Real Madrid, where Dembélé expressed his intentions to leave the Catalan club. Despite Xavi’s attempts to persuade him to stay, citing Neymar Jr.’s example, who also left for PSG in 2017, Dembélé remained steadfast in his decision.
Neymar’s departure from Barcelona in 2017 had caused ripples of discontent and turmoil, and his repeated attempts to return to Camp Nou since then have been well-documented. Nevertheless, Dembélé seemed undeterred, convinced that his future lies at the Parc des Princes next season.
Xavi’s fondness for Dembélé’s playing style and potential had led him to make a heartfelt appeal for the player to reconsider his decision, urging him to remember the lessons from Neymar’s move. However, it appears that Dembélé is determined to create his own path and embrace the new challenge that awaits him in the French capital.
With Dembélé’s departure seemingly inevitable, Barcelona’s management is now focused on finding a suitable replacement and ensuring a smooth transfer process with PSG. Negotiations between the two clubs are expected to commence soon, as Barcelona aims to secure the best deal possible while Xavi Hernández faces the task of reshaping his squad for the upcoming season.
