Barcelona tell Ousmane Dembélé he must leave this month | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé has been publicly warned to find a new club by the end of this month by Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany.

With the Frenchman’s contract up in the summer, negotiations have rumbled on for months over a new deal without any success.

After Xavi admitted on Wednesday that Dembélé would either have to pen a renewal or depart, Alemany has now doubled down on that claim after the winger was excluded from Barça’s squad for tonight’s Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Club.

“We started talks in July. During the last six or seven months we have spoken and we submitted different offers and all have been refused,” Alemany stated in comments released on social media by the club.

“Today, we think that he doesn’t want to continue here so there is not compromise from his side with the team. We have told his agents that he should look to leave before January 31.

“We don’t want to have a player who doesn’t want to be here and the consequence is he is not in the squad list. It’s Xavi’s decision and we back him. We think is the right decision.”

Martin Braithwaite is back in the Barcelona squad after a four-month absence, while Memphis misses out due to feeling muscle discomfort.