Aubameyang: I’m trying to get Dembele to stay
FT Desk
- Updated: 16 Mar 2022 18:57 GMT
- 3 min read
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has admitted that he is trying to convince Ousmane Dembele to stay at Barcelona.
Dembele’s contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of the season and he has rejected all offers of a renewal.
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Barcelona had been very keen for the winger to pen a new deal, however negotiations collapsed spectacularly at the start of the year as Dembele became unhappy about the club offering him a paycut while splashing out €55 million plus €10m in add-ons for new buy Ferran Torres.
Barcelona, meanwhile, complained that Dembele was requesting too much money, with reports that he demanded €240m in order to sign a new contract at Barcelona.
The relationship between Dembele and Barcelona has deteriorated badly, with the club doing everything to push him into either signing a new contract or leaving in January.
There were even reports that Barcelona were prepared to freeze Dembele out of the squad for the rest of the campaign if he didn’t leave, or even take him to court.
In the end, Dembele stayed put and he has been reintegrated into the team in recent games, playing excellently.
There have been reports in recent days that Aubameyang will attempt to change Dembele’s mind and convince him to stay.
The pair have a very close relationship and friendship dating back to their time as teammates for Borussia Dortmund in 2016-17.
And Dembele has now admitted that he is talking to Dembele.
“Yes. We have spoken a little,” Aubameyang told reporters.
“In the end, we will see if he decides. To me, I would like him to stay another year, or more.
“I am very happy to share the pitch with him.”
“From when I arrived, I have seen him train very well, with excitement.
“He is creating a lot of assists and playing well.
“I didn’t doubt this, I’ve known him for many years. I make him smile, it’s very important to be happy.”
Aubameyang joined Barcelona from Arsenal in January and has enjoyed an excellent start to his career at Camp Nou.
He is next in action on Thursday when Barcelona travel to Turkey for the second leg of their Europa League clash against Galatasaray.
