Dembele to join PSG from Barcelona; Coach Xavi ‘very disappointed’

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is ‘very disappointed’ with Ousmane Dembele according to SPORT.

Over at Mundo Deportivo, they report that the coach cited the example of Neymar – who moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Barca in 2017 – as a cautionary tale against making the switch from one of Europe’s most traditional clubs to a nouveau riche outfit such as the Qatari-owned Ligue 1 giants.

Dembele looks certain to continue his career at the French capital next season.

Currently on tour with the Blaugrana in the US, he traveled with the 32-man squad to Las Vegas on Monday afternoon but probably won’t start against AC Milan at the Allegiant Stadium on Tuesday.

This meant that Dembele wasn’t in Europe to deposit his €50 million ($54.9 million) release clause before midnight, and the fee has now doubled to €100 million ($109.8 million).

Barca have every right to feel put out by the conduct of Dembele and his agent Moussa Sissoko. But the figure that feels most betrayed by the sudden and surprise turn of events is his current coach Xavi.

When fans were booing Dembele at the turn of 2022, and many of them demanded he should watch the rest of the season from the stands as punishment for not renewing his contract, Xavi took the forward under his wing.

He vouched for him and constantly backed the player to become one of the best widemen in the world, later explaining to his charge that he is a key part of his plans for the upcoming 2023/2024 campaign.

Just last week, Dembele reportedly confessed to Xavi that now the club is back to winning ways after sealing a Spanish Super Cup and La Liga double last term, his dream is to lift the Champions League trophy in Barca’s colors.

That now seems unlikely given Dembele has decided to join PSG, and Xavi cited Neymar’s as a cautionary tale as to how a career can derail by making such a switch.

Tired of living in Lionel Messi’s shadow at Camp Nou, the Brazilian took the money at the Parc des Princes when the Qataris activated his €222 million ($244 million) release clause in 2017.

Dembele joined in the same summer and was ironically bought with the Neymar cash.

Six years later, however, ‘Ney’ has fallen short of his goal to win the Ballon d’Or and has failed to help his employers claim the UCL crown he was signed to deliver.

Be that as it may, all signs point to them becoming club teammates in the very near future with Dembele, like Neymar, forever a villain in they eyes of Culers.

Source: Forbes