Barcelona manager Xavi remains hopeful that Ousmane Dembele will sign a new contract at Camp Nou.
The French winger has now entered the final six months of his deal after the latest round of contract negotiations broke down, and 90min understands Dembele is prepared to walk away from the club if his wish of a pay rise is not granted.
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Dembele and his representatives have been left less than impressed by Barcelona‘s insistence that they cannot afford to meet his demands while simultaneously signing Ferran Torres for £55m and preparing a lucrative move for Erling Haaland in the summer.
Nevertheless, a line of communication between Barcelona and Dembele remains open, and Xavi hopes that will ultimately end with a successful renewal.
“I am not disappointed,” Xavi said (via Mundo Deportivo). “It’s a negotiation but the agents are difficult. I still have hopes that he will end up staying.
“At Barcelona we have a clear position and we are still in the process, it is not over. We have to wait. I have spoken with [Dembele] again and I think it is possible and I hope that Ousmane will make the effort to stay.
“He has a fantastic offer, but there is always a tug of war.
“I hope he can stay because he s a player capable of making a difference and can be the best footballer in the world in his position. This is a real opportunity for him and he can’t miss it.”
When asked for the reason behind his confidence, Xavi stressed that those in charge at Camp Nou have set an ambitious project that every player should want to be part of.
“I don’t think he could be in a happier place than here,” Xavi continued. “Barcelona is the best club in the world, the sports project is more important that the economic factors, and I have told him that. That is why I am hopeful
“I simply told him that we need him. He is an important player for us. He knows the sports project is intriguing. The economic issues don’t concern me.”
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