Laporta blasts Dembele for refusing January transfer

FT Desk

1 Feb 2022 13:26 GMT
3 min read

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hit out at Ousmane Dembele for refusing a January move away from the club and believes the Frenchman already has a Bosman Transfer agreed for the summer.

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Dembele’s contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of June and he has rejected all offers of a renewal.

Barcelona had been very keen for the winger to renew, with Laporta and Xavi persistently praising Dembele in recent months and urging him to pen a new deal.

However, negotiations suddenly ground to a halt at the turn of the year.

Dembele became unhappy that Barcelona were offering him a contract at much-reduced wages while at the same time putting together a huge economic deal in order to sign Ferran Torres from Man City for €55m plus €10m in add-ons.

Barcelona, meanwhile, complained privately and publicly that Dembele was asking for too much money.

L’Equipe report that Dembele was demanding a financial package worth an incredible €240 million in order to sign a new contract at Barcelona.

Dembele requested a contract worth €40m per year gross for five seasons. He was also demanding a €40m signing-on fee.

The relationship between Dembele and the key figures at Barcelona has deteriorated badly over January.

Barcelona made it clear that either Dembele sign a new contract or leave the club in January.

However, Dembele refused all of Barca’s efforts to shift him and this is something that has infuriated Laporta.

© ProShots - Joan Laporta is furious at Dembele for not leaving

What did Laporta say about Dembele?

“We think Ousmane Dembélé has an agreement in place with another club,” Laporta said.

“He didn’t want to leave the club in January. It’s really difficult to understand his position. It makes no sense for him and for the club.”

Dembele was linked with Deadline Day moves to PSG, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea but ended up staying at Barca.

It remains to be seen whether he will play for the club again, with reports that Barcelona are prepared to freeze him out of the squad for the rest of the season.