After five years, a €140m transfer fee and 149 matches, Ousmane Dembele is no longer a Barcelona player.
He was a record signing for Barcelona when he made the move from Borussia Dortmund and still remains third on the list for the Blaugrana, while he places 8th on the all-time list as per Goal.
Overall, his spell has been plagued by injuries and a failure to find a rhythm in the team. In a cruel trick of fate, only during his final months at the club with Xavi Hernandez did he have both his fitness and the trust of the manager.
He could still resign for Barcelona, but it would count as a signing rather than a contract renewal, as per Sport. That means he would cause a larger hit to Barcelona’s salary limit this season and significantly reduces his chances of rejoining the club.
If this is the definitive end of the Dembele-Barcelona story, it has been one marked by tension and misunderstanding. Although the fans backed Dembele towards the end, his spell at Barcelona will go down as a monumental failure, even if it isn’t all his fault.
Image via David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
Barca should allow Dembele to leave. His priorities were never to be a loyal servant. Through the difficulties Barca stuck with him. He must deal with his personal issues and then decide where he wants to be. He is talented but his personal antics prevents him from showing his true potential.
Agree! He is not suited to play Xavi
style of soccer. Lacks passion and aggression. Better suited to the German league. He has done poorly at Barca. He decided to sign in the end or at least Barca did. Regardless, not enough at the table to get together. Now it would cost financially crippled Barca more money to sign him as a new player. Forget it!
I feel disappointed with Barca’s behaviour in trying to rebuild. What is wrong with our famed la masa? Why not promote platers from the Barca B team. When can we have a Barca that will have 7/8 la masa graduates making up the team like in the era of Xavi, Messi, Intesa, Busquet et al?
La masia project failed for years now
149 matches even if every match Dembele played was worth £1m, it means he only played 9 matches extra.
Where did we go wrong?
barca had been on decline over the past several years by paying through their nose for players like dembele.
He should leave i can’t still believe he missed that sitter against Liverpool it hurts me still that year was hours but I still love him as a player