Barcelona to sell Ousmane Dembele in January, the club has confirmed

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Ousmane Dembele will be sold by Barcelona in the January transfer window
Dembele has six months left on his contract but has not signed a new deal
Barcelona, who only want "committed" players, have hence decided to sell him

Written By:Shiladitya

Updated: January 20 2022 02:58:43 AM ET Barcelona, Spain

French winger Ousmane Dembele has been told to leave Barcelona by the end of the January transfer window.

With six months remaining on his Barcelona contract, the Frenchman has failed to reach an agreement for a renewal with the Catalan giants and it is understood that Barcelona, who are financially strained, will try their best to move him on before the end of the transfer window on January 31.

Barcelona’s intentions were confirmed by Director of Football Mateu Alemany, who held a press conference announcing the club’s stance on Dembele’s situation.

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“We started negotiating with Ousmane’s agents some six months ago,” said Alemany, adding that Barcelona repeatedly informed Dembele that they wanted him “to remain” with the club.

Although the 24-year-old was offered “different deals” over six months of negotiations, an agreement was not reached, said Alemany.

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Following the club’s failure to tie Dembele down to a new deal, the Catalan giants informed the Frenchman that they only wanted players “committed to Barca and Barca’s future,” said Alemany.

The Director of Football went on to say that Dembele “should probably leave as soon as possible, both for his own good and Barca’s good,” adding that the Frenchman had been informed of the club’s decision to move him on.

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The decision was announced on Thursday after Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez issued a public ultimatum to Dembele on Wednesday, saying, “We’re in a position in which we have to stop this right now. Either he renews or we will look for an exit for him.”

In light of the situation with Dembele, the winger has been dropped from Barcelona’s squad for their visit to Athletic Club for a Copa del Rey Round of 16 tie on Thursday, and it is understood that the 24-year-old will not feature in any of Barcelona’s other games in January.