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Dembélé’s agent’s poker game

BarcelonaIn February, ARA contacted Barça to find out about Ousmane Dembélé’s situation. At the time, the footballer, who had refused to leave the winter market and had not renegotiated his contract, had hinted that he had an agreement with another club. The winger ended his contract on June 30. Initially he had been punished, out of the calls, but the insistence of the coach, Xavi Hernández, managed to redirect the situation. One of the sources consulted, close to the president, replied: “I have the feeling that it has nothing to do with any club. Which is not true. At the end of the season we will make a new proposal to renew it. And I do not rule out anything that we end up doing it “. What was then just a “feeling” is the reality of the case.

Dembélé ended his contract with Barça in June and has been a free agent for a few days. The Barça team offered him a downward renewal proposal a few weeks ago. The footballer has not yet responded to the proposal, but the club is growing the feeling that he will eventually accept it. Actually, the player wants to stay at the Camp Nou. He established his residence in Barcelona five years ago, feels comfortable there and does not want to change his mind. His agent, Moussa Sissoko, on the other hand, moves threads for him to go to another club. Of course, he can’t find anywhere to pay what he asks for: a high profile for Dembélé and also a renewal bonus. Some money, the latter, which Barça denied to Sissoko in 2017 when he signed Dembélé. The club then had to pay 105 million more variable fixed to Borussia Dortmund and, in the face of such a high amount, “there was no money left to pay extra bonuses to the agent,” the club’s former managers recall.

Moussa Sissoko wanted 20 million per season and 40 million renewal premium

It’s all an economic issue. A poker game that began about a year ago, when Mateu Alemany, the top executive in Barça’s football area, began contacts with Sissoko to renew the player. The agent made things clear, from the first minute, putting the economic proposal on the table. The figures that had been published spoke of 20 million per year and 40 of bonus for renewal. These figures obviously did not match the economic reality of Barça. Seeing that there was no possibility of an agreement, and as the contract was coming to an end, Barça opened the doors to Dembélé to leave the club. He even offered him the letter of release, in order to save the 12 million euros he receives annually. The agent flatly refused.

From here come opposite versions of the story, about the money one party offers and the demands of the other. The only thing they agree on is that no agreement was reached. Barça, who did not find a way out for Dembélé in January, were convinced that the player already had a pre-agreement with a club – there was talk of PSG or a Premier League team – but the days passed and no one said anything. Not only that, they had no record of anything from any other club. So Barça raised their stakes and offered a downward renewal. Initially, Sissoko raised his voice to heaven. A few days later, at the Camp Nou they believe they can close the deal, which would be for an amount of between 6 and 7 million fixed. As detailed in the newspaper Sportwould be a link for two seasons, until 2024.

Xavi still wants Dembélé to renew

Dembélé has always been a controversial player. He has been the protagonist more for his extra-sporting fuss than for his merits on the pitch. He has spent many games injured and, on the pitch, he has hardly made a difference. Still, from the locker room they want to keep counting on him. “He doesn’t understand the game, but we want him to stay,” a member of the ARA toldstaff. His ability to shoot with both legs, speed and change of pace, are the main strengths of the player that the coach takes into account. Despite the suspicion of the management, the technical secretariat and part of the fans, there are more and more numbers that the footballer ends up renewing. The poker game is coming to an end.

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