IN SPORT.ES
Barcelona have called time on Ousmane Dembele soap opera. After having several contract renewal offers snubbed by his agent, the club have told him to find a new club. The decision has been taken sportingly and institutionally.
Xavi Hernandez left him out of the squad for Thursday's Copa del Rey game against Athletic Club and director of football Mateu Alemany has said he has to leave this month.
"We want players that are committed to Barça and for the good of Dembele and the club he must leave as soon as possible," Alemany confirmed.
Therefore, Barça will look to move the French forward on before the transfer window closes to make some sort of saving on his salary between now and the summer.
The Catalan club are working against the clock, though, and have just 11 days to find a club willing to pay a transfer fee in January for a player available for free in the summer.
If a deal can't be done, Barça are even considering releasing him for free and hope the player's camp will agree to an early rescission of his contract to be able to move to their next club now.