Dembele raises concerns about Barcelona future

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 4 min read

Ousmane Dembele says he is happy at Barcelona but has prompted further questions about his future by admitting that he is yet to hold talks about staying at the club.

Dembele did not make a big impact in El Clasico on Saturday, failing to register a shot on target as Barcelona were beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid.

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It was a poorly-timed ineffectual display with his future in the spotlight.

The Spanish press have already discussed how ‘the Dembele experiment’ – with Ronald Koeman starting him as a centre-forward – failed to work as the latest instalment of the world’s biggest fixture is digested.

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Dembele had scored the winner against Real Valladolid coming into the Clasico.

There were hopes he was finally displaying his best form for Barcelona over recent weeks, injuries and inconsistent form having impacted much of his stay.

But he was eventually substituted with Barcelona chasing the game in the latter stages of El Clasico.

He was replaced by Martin Braithwaite, who almost immediately was involved in a penalty claim for Barca after tangling with Ferland Mendy.

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Dembele only has one year left to run on his Barcelona contract.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and PSG have been linked with him at various points.

Due to their fragile financial situation, Barcelona would not be able to risk losing the 23-year-old for nothing if there is not a prompt resolution on his future.

Dembele: I feel good at Barcelona

Koeman insisted this week Dembele was important to Barca.

The forward himself is happy, though no discussions have taken place.

Dembel said to BeIN SPORTS: “My future? I still have a year of contract left.

“There has not been a discussion with the club yet, I’m happy, and I feel good.

“Then there is the new president who has arrived and whom I do not know too well, but he is very close to the players.

“We’ll see how it goes.

“I have always kept a smile, even after an injury. There are trials in life, you have to overcome them and then work.”