“Renew or he won’t wear the Barcelona shirt again”: Xavi’s threat to Dembele’s agent | OneFootball

Talks over a possible contract extension have persisted between Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele. His agent, Moussa Sissoko, arrived in the Catalan capital on Tuesday to continue negotiations. Although Dembele’s future is still up in the air, Xavi has made things clear about where he stands.

According to Luis Rojo via Toni Juanmarti, at yesterday’s meeting between the club and player’s representatives, Xavi reportedly stated, “if Ousmane doesn’t renew or leave now, he won’t wear the Barça shirt again.”

There is less than a week left in the January transfer window, and if the Frenchman is to depart, it must be done immediately. If Dembele stays but does not renew, he will spend the rest of the season in the stands.

Rather than threatening Dembele to extend his deal, Xavi is looking out for the club’s best interests. Should he leave in the summer on a free transfer, there are other players who must be prioritized and developed instead.

When Xavi took over the managerial reigns at Barcelona in November, there were high hopes for Dembele. The dynamic winger was consistently lauded as a talent who would play a major role for the manager, despite his inconsistencies for the Blaugrana.

Now, Xavi may have to look elsewhere for a replacement. For Barcelona, they will unceremoniously part ways with one of their most expensive signings in history.