Barcelona: Ex-Director Admits Dembele Mistreatment
A former FC Barcelona director admits the club mishandled Ousmane Dembele, a revelation shaking the football world. News Directory 3 brings you the inside scoop on the circumstances surrounding Dembele’s departure, including insights into the “role” Xavi Hernandez played in his career. Discover details about the “Barcelona transfer” and how it impacted the team’s structure, potentially paving the way for rising stars. Now excelling, Dembele is even being considered for the Ballon d’Or, showcasing his continued growth.What awaits Dembele in the Champions League final? Discover what’s next.
Former Barcelona Director: Club mistreated Ousmane Dembele
As Paris Saint-Germain, featuring Ousmane Dembele, prepares to face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich, a former FC Barcelona director has shed light on the club’s handling of the player. Robert Fernandez suggested Barcelona lacked the patience needed to fully unlock dembele’s potential, despite his undeniable talent.
Barcelona acquired Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for an initial €105 million, plus €40 million in potential add-ons, using funds from Neymar’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. However, for several years, the club struggled to maximize the forward’s abilities. The role of coach xavi Hernandez proved pivotal. He provided special attention, transforming Dembele into a world-class player. Despite this, Dembele’s agent and Paris saint-Germain lured him away in 2023 for a reported €50.4 million.
Under Luis Enrique at PSG, Dembele, now 28, has continued to flourish, evolving into a more central player and a Ballon d’Or contender. Fernandez noted that if Dembele wins the Champions League, he could be a strong contender for the prestigious award, potentially ahead of Barcelona’s own Lamine Yamal.
Fernandez emphasized that the club, the press, and even himself were impatient with Dembele. ”Honestly, I think we mistreated this player a lot,” Fernandez said. ”He came very young… He had extraordinary conditions.”
Fernandez refuted claims about Dembele’s professionalism. “There was no patience, and above all, he had two injuries,” Fernandez stated. “It’s a contradiction, because they told me personally that he wasn’t very professional, and that wasn’t true.He was a magnificent professional. He didn’t drink, and they said he drank. They said that he was leading a bad life, and it was a lie. It hurt him a lot; I think it unbalanced him.” He added that Dembele’s time at Barcelona ended well, thanks to Xavi’s support.
The Barcelona transfer of Dembele also paved the way for Lamine Yamal’s rapid ascent within FC Barcelona. Had dembele remained, Yamal’s possibility might have been delayed.
What’s next
Dembele will play a key role for PSG in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. A strong performance could solidify his Ballon d’