Barcelona provide update on Dembele's future
Martin Macdonald
- 26 Mar 2022 10:07 GMT
- 3 min read
Ousmane Dembele has not provided any indication recently that he wishes to sign a new contract at Barcelona, according to club president Joan Laporta.
The Frenchman remains one of the most expensive footballers of all time, having joined the Blaugrana from Barcelona for €105 million from Borussia Dortmund.
He has failed to live up to that hefty price tag, mainly due to a series of injuries that have severely hampered his impact in his time at the club.
Dembele's contract at Barcelona expires in June, and up until the turn of the year, he and the club were locked in talks over an extension, only for negotiations to break down.
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He was told to leave in January, but no suitors came in at that time.
There is still the possibility that he could sign a new deal before his current one expires, but that isn't looking likely currently.
"At the moment, we have no news that [Dembele] wants to continue," Laporta told Mundo Deportivo.
"I don't know if his agents have been in contact but I think not because he would know and we are focused on the last stretch of the season to try and win the league.
"At the end of the season, I suppose there will be talks, but within the salary levels that we are establishing."
Dembele in his best Barca form?
There is an argument to be made that Dembele is actually playing his best football for Barcelona currently, as he appears to be flourishing under the tutelage of Xavi.
In his last six games in all competitions, he has recorded six assists and scored another goal himself.
Even though there is a real possibility of a sour departure for Dembele at Barca, Laporta has actually praised the player's professionalism.
"Dembele is a wonderful, charming boy. At least he hasn't caused us problems since we took charge of the club," the Barcelona president continued.
"Perhaps we are seeing the best Dembele since he joined Barca, for sure.
"He is a player that the coaches have worked out how to manage better, starting with Xavi, who has dealt with him wonderfully.
"But we made him a renewal offer that expired on December 20 last year. He decided not to take advantage o the renewal. Now, Xavi says that he is counting on him because he is a player who makes a difference. Let's see what happens, the options he had has expired and we are already setting salary levels that all those who have to stay next season will have to accept."
When asked if Barcelona will open talks again with Dembele despite previous negotiations breaking down, Laporta responded:
"Let's see, I don't like to talk about hypothetical situations. If this happens, we're talkative people and Dembele appreciates that very much.
"In addition, now with [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and [Samuel] Umtiti, he gets along with them very well. There is a good atmosphere and, to me, he looks happy at the end of matches. He gets along with Auba very well, and that's nice to see."
