Dembele’s Departure: Four Reasons for the Surprise Move

Ousmane Dembele’s shocking departure from FC Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain has left football fans bewildered. Just a short while ago, Dembele himself expressed his contentment at the club and was even discussing a potential contract extension.

The 26-year-old winger had been a vital asset in Xavi Hernandez’s team and enjoyed a stellar season in the last campaign, leading many to believe he would renew with the La Liga champions. However, unexpectedly, he opted for a move to the Ligue 1 champions, PSG.

Dembele has already arrived in Paris to finalize his €50 million transfer from Barça, and an official announcement is expected imminently. The French international is set to sign a lucrative five-year deal with PSG.

Sport journalist, Sergi Capdevila, revealed exclusive insights into the reasons behind Dembele’s departure from Barcelona:

Pressure during the 2022 contract saga:

Last year, the negotiations for Dembele’s contract renewal became a major talking point, causing prolonged discussions between the player’s representatives and Barcelona. At one point, Barcelona even excluded him from the squad to push him to accept their terms, which created a growing sense of mistrust.

Deco’s appointment as sporting director:

The arrival of Deco as the sporting director, who had previously been Raphinha’s agent, did not sit well with Dembele’s camp. Deco’s failure to meet the squad and discuss Dembele’s renewal further fueled the dissatisfaction.

Rumors of a potential swap deal with PSG:

Barcelona’s rumored interest in Kylian Mbappe, with reports suggesting a swap deal involving Dembele and Gavi, deeply unsettled the French winger. Although Xavi reassured him that such talks were baseless, it had already taken a toll on Dembele’s trust.

Lack of trust within the club:

Ultimately, Dembele felt that he did not have the full trust of several key figures within Barcelona. Worried that his contract renewal might be delayed, and fearing a repeat of being excluded from the squad, he made the decision to leave for PSG.

Contrary to some speculations, Dembele’s move was not influenced by his agent, and his new salary at PSG will not be three times what he earned at Barça.

Source: https://barcauniversal.com/four-reasons-why-ousmane-dembele-decided-to-leave-barcelona-report/