Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez expressed disappointment in Ousmane Dembele after the attacker informed him he wants to join Paris Saint-Germain, as reported by ESPN last week.
Barca and PSG are still negotiating the cost breakdown, which is estimated to be about €50 million ($54.9 million), but the trade is expected to be finalised in the coming days.
“I am a little disappointed,” Xavi told Catalan television after his side’s 1-0 friendly win over AC Milan in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“He has told us that he wants to go PSG. We tried to keep him, but there is nothing we can do. He told me he has already spoken to [PSG coach] Luis Enrique and [PSG president Nasser] Al-Khelaifi.
“There was no way to convince him, this is the final decision and it is his personal decision. PSG have made an offer that is completely out of the market. We cannot compete with it.”
Dembele, 26, appeared to be on his way out of Barcelona in 2022, with sporting director Mateu Alemany asking him to find a new club at one point, but Xavi’s determination to retain him at the club led to his accepting a contract extension last summer.
That two-year pact, which expires in 2024, did, however, include a €50 million release provision that was effective until July 31. After the first deal expired on Monday, that condition was increased to €100 million. However, because Dembele prefers that the teams strike a deal, Barcelona decided to begin discussions with PSG.
Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for a cost of €105 million. Injuries have hampered his stint with the club, restricting him to 185 appearances in all competitions, during which he has scored 40 goals.
