“Sergi Roberto Opens Up on Dembele’s Departure: ‘I Tried to Convince Him to Stay, but He Remained Silent'”

Sergi Roberto, Barcelona’s captain, has spoken out about his efforts to persuade Ousmane Dembele to stay at the club. After the game against AC Milan, Roberto revealed that he had personally talked to Dembele about the potential move, but the Frenchman remained tight-lipped and did not engage in discussions. Despite their best efforts to convince him otherwise, Dembele made the decision to part ways with Barcelona.

The news of Dembele’s imminent departure came as a shock to the team, and they were initially uncertain about the truth behind the rumors. Sergi Roberto expressed his disappointment at the winger’s exit, emphasizing that Dembele had been an integral part of the squad for many years, and he was beloved by his teammates and friends.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to sign Dembele for €50 million this week, though only a portion of that money will directly impact Barcelona’s account. La Liga’s Financial Play rules dictate that Barcelona can only utilize 60% of the funds from selling Dembele to make new signings. Nevertheless, the move will help Barcelona reduce their wage bill and provide flexibility to register new players.

Xavi, Barcelona’s head coach, also expressed his feelings about Dembele’s departure. He admitted to feeling somewhat disappointed by the player’s decision to leave. Xavi revealed that he tried to convince Dembele to stay, but the winger had already made up his mind after consulting with Luis Enrique and PSG’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The coach expressed his best wishes for Dembele’s future and acknowledged the contributions the player had made during his time at Barcelona.

As a sign of his impending departure, Dembele was not included in Barcelona’s squad for the friendly match against Milan, instead watching the game from the stands. His move to PSG is expected to be finalized in the coming days, with a significant increase in his salary compared to his time at Barcelona.

Dembele’s departure marks the end of an era for Barcelona and opens up new opportunities for both the player and the club. While it is a challenging loss for the team, Barcelona’s coaching staff and management are now focused on making strategic decisions to strengthen the squad and prepare for the upcoming season.

As Dembele embarks on his new journey with PSG, Barcelona will continue to strive for success with their renewed determination and commitment to developing and nurturing talent. The club will also seek to make the most of their financial resources to bolster the team’s ranks with potential new signings, ensuring they remain competitive at both domestic and international levels.