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Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele will return to the squad for Sunday’s LaLiga match against Atletico Madrid after the club failed to move him on in the January transfer window, coach Xavi Hernandez said on Saturday.
When contract negotiations fell, Barça told Dembele he needed to go before the January transfer window ended, claiming a move would be mutually beneficial https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-spain-fcb-dembele-idUKKBN2JU12H.
The 24-year-old, however, was unable to find a new club and will remain at Barça until the end of the season.
“We’ve come up with a plan for Ousmane Dembele. The situation has changed since a month ago. He has a contract,” Xavi told a news conference.
“He’s a Barcelona player, and he’s a member of the team.” We must take advantage of him, and he can assist us. When he’s been involved, he’s been a good professional.
“It’s a decision made by the club. We’ll use him when it’s convenient for us.”
Dembele has not lived up to the promise that led to the Spanish club paying 105 million euros ($120.18 million) for his services in 2017, netting only 31 goals in 129 games.
When asked if the home supporters would target Dembele, who is poised to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, Xavi replied: “I understand the frustrations of fans who believe Dembele has harmed them.
“We need to stick together and focus on ourselves; he can assist us in achieving our objectives. What difference does it make whether we were correct or not? We are a family, and we have decided what is best for the club as a whole.
After 21 games, Barça is in fifth place with 35 points, one point behind winners Atletico Madrid, who are fourth and have a horrible record at Camp Nou coach Diego Simeone has never won there.
“I recall Xavi saying on a TV appearance back in 2016 that the Atletico style of football was not for large teams,” Simeone stated at a press conference on Saturday.
“I don’t think it’s a lack of respect: when you’ve only dealt with one circumstance in your life, you can’t understand another.”
Vincent Paul
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