Barça remain resolute with PSG on the offensive for Ousmane Dembélé
The Blaugrana club dismissed PSG's request to negotiate Dembélé's transfer and pointed them to his release clause
Barça and PSG are dragged into yet another summer transfer market battle, this time for Ousmane Dembéle.
Events were accelerated at the weekend, with lots of communication between all of the parties. PSG sent Barça a written request for Barça to authorise them to negotiate with Ousmane Dembélé for his signature. The Catalan club were adamant that they intend to keep the French international in their ranks and that they have even offered him a renewal offer. The Blaugrana officials would only act if the termination clause is triggered.
Ousmane Dembélé met with Mateu Alemany to find out the club's plan for him. The FC Barcelona director of football made it abundantly clear that he wanted El Mosquito to stay, hence the much-improved renewal offer: four seasons and with a wage boost. A week earlier, the player's agent, Moussa Sissoko, had responded to the club's initial offer by asking for a higher salary increase and a series of variables that Barça did not want to take on then.
Xavi Hernández played his part this Sunday, expressing his desire to keep him and that he hoped Dembélé would reconsider Barça's latest improved offer, to stay with the team. However, Xavi made sure not to force the situation any further as both sides know very well what they think and, as the Barça coach said, it is up to Dembélé to decide where he wants to play.
Despite everything, the feelings in the heart of the azulgrana entity are negative because PSG have reacted to the initial misgivings of Dembélé by improving their initial financial offer to the player, just as Barça showed their willingness to negotiate with the Frenchman.
