Barcelona ‘go to WAR’ with PSG over Dembele transfer

Robin Bairner

• 31 Jul 2023 10:34 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are ready to go to “war” with PSG if the Ligue 1 champions complete the signing of Ousmane Dembele, according to a report in Spain.

Dembele opened the scoring as Barca beat Real Madrid 3-0 in El Clasico at the weekend, but the France international winger is ready to turn his back on the Camp Nou side to move back to his homeland, where he could potentially be Kylian Mbappe’s replacement at Parc des Princes.

The Catalans have been adamant that the 26-year-old will not depart the club this summer, but the issue is out of their hands given that PSG are prepared to play the winger’s release fee, which stands at €50 million until 1 August, at which point it doubles to €100m.

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According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are ready to revolt.

“Barcelona are willing to go to war with PSG if the French club ends up paying Ousmane Dembele’s release clause,” it states.

In order to do this, they will go to UEFA and demand that European football’s governing body open an investigation into whether or not PSG comply with Financial Fair Play and will request to see where they get all their financial resources from.

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Dembele transfer in doubt?

In reality, Dembele would cost more than €50m because it is the player himself who has to trigger the clause. This money would be funded by PSG, who would also have to take into account personal income tax and VAT.

Xavi has met with the player and tried to persuade him to stay, but Moussa Sissoko, the agent of Dembele, has put forward a counteroffer that would see the player’s wages rise by €6-7m per year. Barcelona responded by saying this was impossible in the current climate.

Football transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano, meanwhile, has hinted that PSG are fearful that they will not be able to complete a deal for Dembele on 31 July, which would throw the possibility of the transfer falling through open given the player’s fee would double at that point.