Barcelona President Laporta on failed Dembele transfer: ‘The last option was an English club’
Ousmane DembeleBarcelona 2021-22
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Barca failed to sell Ousmane Dembele. Joan Laporta isn’t thrilled with how things went recently.
President Joan Laporta from the Spanish top club FC Barcelona has commented on the failed attempt, world champion Ousmane Dembele in the past transfer window still to be handed over. “The fact that he stayed is neither good for the club nor for him. Dembele’s decision is difficult to understand,” said the club boss at a press conference on Tuesday.
Dembele, who receives a high salary at Barca, decided a few weeks ago not to extend his expiring contract. The now ended transfer period was for Barca the last chance, a free transfer of the former 135 million transfer yet to prevent. In the past few days, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur are said to have been candidates for a Dembele transfer.
Barcelona: Bayern rumors about Ousmane Dembele
Laporta declined to name names but confirmed: “The last option was an English club and he didn’t want to leave.” Behind this is a sophisticated plan for the president: “We believe that he has an agreement with another club.” With that, he indicated that Dembele already knows who his new employer will be from the summer.
There have been rumors about interested clubs again and again in recent months. Among other things, Chelsea was traded with Dembele’s ex-coach Thomas Tuchel. Newcastle United and FC Bayern are also said to have thought about the 24-year-old.
Looking back, Laporta said of the tough negotiations with Dembele: “We made him a good offer that he liked. He later increased his demands. We told him that was the maximum and the negotiations were deadlocked.”
Whether Dembele still has a sporting perspective at the Blaugrana until the end of the season is open. Most recently, the right winger was not part of coach Xavi’s squad.