Barca coach tells forward to sign new contract or leave club following breakdown in talks
\n MADRID
\nBarcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said on Saturday the club would not soften their stance on Ousmane Dembele\u2019s contract situation, despite the Frenchman\u2019s angry riposte on social media on Thursday.
\nDembele wrote he would not \u201cgive in to blackmail\u201d after Xavi left him out of his squad to face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday night, following a breakdown in talks over a new deal.
\nThe winger\u2019s contract expires in the summer, when he will be able to leave Barcelona for free.
\nThe club\u2019s director of football Mateu Alemany said on Thursday morning \u201cit seems obvious to us that the player does not want to continue at Barcelona\u201d and \u201ctherefore we hope that a transfer will take place before January 31\u201d.
\n\u201cDembele\u2019s situation hasn\u2019t changed. He knows what the options are and he has to decide,\u201d Xavi said in a press conference ahead of Sunday\u2019s game away at Alaves.
\n\u201cThere is no alternative. There are still days left (in the transfer window),\u201d Xavi added.
\nIt remains to be seen if Barcelona can find an exit for Dembele mid-season, either for a transfer fee or on loan. Shifting the 24-year-old\u2019s wages would help free up space for signings.
\n\u201cWe are working to bring players in. We\u2019ll see what we can do,\u201d Xavi said.
\nWith Dembele exiled, Barcelona could have done without Ansu Fati picking up a hamstring injury against Athletic on Thursday, with reports suggesting the 19-year-old could be out for two months.
\nFati has only just returned after two months out injured, having come back in September following 10 months absent with a knee problem.
\n\u201cHe is very upset, it\u2019s a difficult situation,\u201d said Xavi.
\nClub doctors advised that Fati should only play 30 to 35 minutes against Athletic but the striker came on in the 61st minute and stayed on for extra-time.
\n\u201cThe extra-time upset our plans,\u201d said Xavi. \u201cWe will try to make a very specific plan so that he does not get injured again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Barca coach tells forward to sign new contract or leave club following breakdown in talks MADRID Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said on Saturday the club would not soften their stance on Ousmane Dembele\u2019s contract situation, despite the Frenchman\u2019s angry riposte on social media on Thursday. Dembele wrote he would not \u201cgive in to blackmail\u201d after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":232584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[3304,3305,1626],"class_list":{"0":"post-240395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-dembele","9":"tag-tough-stance","10":"tag-xavi-hernandez"},"yoast_head":"\n