He is neither injured nor suspended. But the Frenchman pays for his contractual situation, which is still unclear. While Barca have made him an extension offer for months, the player has still not followed it up. His contract ending in June, he is now free to negotiate where he sees fit. A situation that has become increasingly untenable.
On Wednesday, Xavi had already warned. “Either he extends, or we will have to find a solution”. The Catalan club threatened to leave the former Rennais in the stands. This will now be the case, unless the situation turns around since Dembélé is not in the group to face Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening. “We understand that Dembélé’s decision is not to continue with us and we have communicated our decision to him,” explained Mateu Alemany, Barca’s director of football, in a video released by the club. “We want players involved and we told him he had to leave the club as soon as possible.”
Barca’s decision seems irreversible. “He had several extension offers. If he really wanted to stay, it would have been settled a long time ago. The best thing is that he leaves”.
Barcelona are now hoping to find a solution for their player before January 31 and the end of the transfer window.
