FC Barcelona’s home defeat against Rayo Vallecano was bitter, a low point in the club’s history (three home defeats in a row for the first time) – but for Ousmane Dembélé (24) it was also a milestone. For the first time since moving from BVB to the Catalans in 2017, he was in the starting XI for eight league games in a row and was not thrown back by an injury.
The French winger played his part in the Catalans’ interim upswing and was one of the best in the recent defeats.
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Great free kick goal!
Lyon has a new Juninho!
Source: DAZN
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Dembélé feels good again in Barcelona, appreciates working with coach Xavi, and is also thriving again in the dressing room alongside new winter signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
And yet it is surprising that there have actually been negotiations again between Dembélé’s advisor Moussa Sissoko and the Barça management. On Wednesday, the sides discussed the possibility of extending the contract, which expires at the end of the season. According to media reports, the talks were positive and harmonious.
There was no agreement, further talks are to follow, but there are positive signals that Dembélé is staying with the Catalans and that he is willing to lower his previous salary expectations, which Barça do not want to meet.
There are many indications that Dembéle will stay at Barça!
The farewell was already considered certain. In January, the fronts were so hardened that Sissoko even publicly threatened legal action: “If Barcelona wanted to talk, she could have tried to come to a table with us. There are no talks but threats that he will not play again. And that’s forbidden. We will assert Ousmane Dembélé’s rights if necessary.”
Barcelona football director Mateu Alemany said: “We started talks with Ousmane and his agents in July. All this time, six months, almost seven months, we’ve had talks, we’ve made different offers, tried to find a way for the player to continue with us. But these offers were systematically rejected by his advisors. Today, January 20, 11 days before the transfer window closes, it’s obvious that the player doesn’t want to stay at Barcelona and isn’t committed to Barça’s future project. He and his agents have been told he has to leave immediately because we want committed players. We hope for a transfer before January 31.”
