Xavi: Dembele says he is happy at Barcelona
Martin Macdonald
- 17 Dec 2021 17:08 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona head coach Xavi has revealed that Ousmane Dembele has told him he is happy at Camp Nou.
Dembele's contract at Camp Nou runs out in the summer of 2022 and Barca are keen for him to renew as soon as possible in order to eliminate the risk of losing him on a free transfer.
The Frenchman has missed the majority of the season so far after picking up an injury in the summer, but has returned to feature in Barcelona's last three games.
At the moment, negotiations are ongoing between Dembele's representatives and Barcelona, but reports from Spain this week suggest the player's agent Moussa Sissoko was campaigning for his client to move on to pastures new.
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When asked again about the player's future, Xavi stressed that Dembele allegedly wants to stay at Barca.
"Dembele? I am positive about him again. He says that he wants to continue, that he is happy here and I cannot say much more," Xavi said:
"It is a matter of agreeing with his representative. He knows about the importance he will have if he stays.”
Dembele will not be ousted from squad
Dembele's status as an alleged contract rebel have led to speculation that he could be exiled from the squad by Xavi.
But, the Barcelona boss says that will not happen.
"Dembele to the stands? It would not be the objective, if he has a contract I think he has to play," the Barcelona boss told reporters.
"You have to be positive.
"But on the other hand I am very clear on that, if he has a contract he has to play, also because of the club's image. I do not value that option, I do not contemplate it."
President Joan Laporta also insists Dembele will stay, and even expressed a view that the player is better than PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe.
“Dembele will stay,” Laporta said on TV3’s ‘Els Matins’ programme.
“For me, he’s a great player.
“His agents want the best for him, but sometimes the best is not money.
“For me, it’s clear: Dembele is better than Mbappe.”
