Barcelona: Ousmane Dembele contract is reward for Xavi's faith
Suraj Radia
- 14 Jul 2022 20:23 BST
- 3 min read
Ousmane Dembele has penned a new two-year contract with Barcelona, completing a dramatic turnaround in his fortune under Xavi.
The Frenchman was on course to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract this summer but the arrival of the Barcelona manager in November saw Dembele handed a new lease on life.
Xavi was quick to praise the 25-year-old upon his appointment, telling the media that Dembele’s renewal was in his own hands.
“For me, Dembele can be the best player in the world in his position,” Xavi said at the time. “But you have to work with him. It depends on him, on his mentality, that he does not get injured much, and that he plays well.
Dembele ended up becoming a crucial part of Barcelona’s team, posting a league-high 13 assists in 21 appearances and justifying the faith thrust into him by his manager.
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Prior to last season, Dembele was considered one of the biggest flops in football history, having played just 81 times in La Liga since signing for an eyewatering €145 million from Dortmund in 2017.
The winger had struggled with injuries throughout his time at Barca and there were also concerns over his behaviour and consistency whenever he did make it onto the pitch.
Dembele’s reluctance to sign a new contract was also held against him and Barca had even announced in January that he wouldn’t play for them again due to his lack of commitment to the club.
However, Xavi was always fiercely defensive over the former Rennes man despite the ongoing distractions and Dembele featured in all but four league games under the Spaniard.
Barça president Laporta: “Ousmane Dembélé did a great effort to stay at Barcelona, now adapted to our salary budget. He always wanted to stay here”. 🔴🇫🇷 #FCB
“Xavi loves Ousmane and wanted him to be part of the team”. pic.twitter.com/IA7MHmv5wQ— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2022
The Barca boss was instrumental in convincing Dembele to accept a 40% wage decrease with his new contract in order to stay at the club despite interest from the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.
While he perhaps has yet to prove Xavi’s claim of becoming the best winger in the world, the reversal in Dembele’s Barca career showcases just how pivotal the faith of a manager can be.
With his future now secure and having proven his fitness over the past season, Dembele will be keen to continue progressing in order to live up to his potential and the belief of his manager.
