French international Ousmane Dembele is all set to join Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona after his release clause was triggered.
Ousmane Dembele is all set to complete his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the coming days. The French club have triggered the private release clause worth €50 million to land the 26-year-old winger at the club.
Lionel Messi has already left the club, and Kylian Mbappe is also expected to be on the move. As a result, PSG are now looking to bolster their attack and have identified Dembele as an important transfer target along with a few others.
Ousmane Dembélé to PSG, here we go! Medical tests booked, official contract valid until June 2028 will be signed by Saturday 🚨🔴🔵🇫🇷 #PSG
‘Private’ clause activated on Monday for €50m.
Main part to Barcelona and also part to player side/his agent Moussa Sissoko.
Sealed soon. pic.twitter.com/g4LLItD8DA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 3, 2023
They wanted to trigger his La Liga exit clause but failed to activate it by the stipulated date of August 1. As a result, the French club sent a formal letter to Barcelona to activate his private release clause. The 26-year-old has already agreed personal terms with PSG and is all set to complete his move in the ongoing window.
It has come as a surprise to many across the globe. While many Barcelona fans consider it to be betrayal, a few believe his departure could help them reinforce their squad. Meanwhile, the Catalan giants’ journey from Neymar to Dembele comes full circle, encompassing a roller-coaster of emotions and financial transactions. The transfers of these two-star players have left a lasting mark on the club and its fans.
The Neymar Saga
The Brazilian forward joined Barcelona in the summer of 2013 from Santos. He went from strength to strength after joining the Blaugrana and was amongst the best players in the world.
The 31-year-old had formed a deadly trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The trifecta dominated European football. But, in the summer of 2017, things took a turn. Neymar was considering leaving Barcelona because he wanted to best player in the world.
He knew that would it be impossible to be the best in the world when could not even be the best player at the club in the presence of Messi. While the duo had an exceptional relationship, the Brazil international’s dreams meant he was ready to move.
PSG came to know about his desires and enquired about his availability. Barcelona were not ready to negotiate his departure. But there was a release clause in his contract. The French club were serious about their approach, and they ended up triggering his release of €222 million.
The world of football was shocked as PSG ended up paying a world record fee for the then-25-year-old Neymar. And, this led to a series of changes at the Spanish club as well as the world of football.
Ousmane Dembele and his arrival from Borussia Dortmund
Neymar’s move to PSG inflated the market and clubs started placing next-to-impossible release clauses in their players’ contracts. The world of football has never been the same since the move was executed.
Meanwhile, the record-breaking transfer added millions to Barcelona’s purse, and they went all out to sign stars. The Catalan giants signed Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele in big-money moves. While Dembele has done his bit over the years, Coutinho’s transfer did not work out, and he has already left the club.
The French international joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in that window itself for €105 million. Dembele has not had the best of times since joining the Catalan giants. And while has showcased his potential, his best is yet to come.
The 26-year-old has featured in a total of 185 matches and has been contributed towards 83 goals. Those are decent numbers for a winger. But the fact that he has missed 119 matches due to injury has not helped their cause. Despite his struggles, the fans and the management have always backed the French international. But, he has decided to leave the club and join PSG.
Has Dembele betrayed Barcelona, their fans and manager Xavi?
Ousmane Dembele has shown glimpses of the exceptional talent he possesses. But injuries have prevented him from having the kind of impact he could have had. Despite his struggles with injuries over the years, the Barcelona fans have always backed the 26-year-old.
He has been a fan favourite from day 1, and it has been the same over the years irrespective of his performances. Last season, he had a total of 17 goal contributions and was on the pitch for close to 2,200 minutes.
The fans started to believe that next season would be his best, but his decision to leave for PSG has shocked them. Despite all the love that they have showcased to the 26-year-old and the kind of efforts the club have made to keep him happy, Dembele has made the decision to choose PSG over Barcelona.
Even his manager Xavi has expressed his disappointment over the transfer. He wanted the French international at the club but has suggested that Barcelona can’t match the offer PSG have put forward. As a result, the transfer is imminent. The fact that the 26-year-old has gone the same road that Neymar did years back has not gone down well with the fans. The fans believe the money involved has played a big role.
Xavi on Dembele’s decision to leave: “[Dembele informed] that he has a proposal from PSG, that he wants to go there, [and] today he has not played for that reason. It is a personal decision. It is a pity, [and] it tastes bad to me because we have taken great care of him.”
Neymar to Dembele: Barcelona have come a full circle
Neymar’s departure to PSG shocked the footballing world and triggered a chain of events that led to Barcelona investing heavily in new talent, including Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund. While Neymar’s record-breaking transfer bolstered Barcelona’s finances and allowed them to sign promising stars like Dembele, injuries and inconsistent performances have plagued Dembele’s time at the club.
Despite his struggles, the fans and manager Xavi stood by Dembele, hoping for his breakthrough season. However, the unexpected decision to join PSG has sparked debates among fans, with some considering it a betrayal while others believe his departure could provide an opportunity to reinforce the squad.
The parallel paths of Neymar and Dembele’s transfers to and from PSG have left a lasting mark on Barcelona, creating a sense of deja vu and underscoring the complexities of player loyalty and financial dynamics in the world of football.
