Barcelona Set To Restart Contract Talks With $117M Star Who Has Xavi’s Backing: Report

FC Barcelona have reportedly contacted Ousmane Dembele’s agents ahead of the 2022 summer.

Dembele’s current deal with Barcelona is due to expire at the end of the 2021-22 campaign. The Catalans club has spoken with Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko to restart contract conversations and are hoping to find a solution this time, reported The SPORT.

By doing so, Barcelona have taken the first step, especially since the negotiations previously broke down at the beginning of 2022. The initial contract talks between both the parties halted when the Frenchman thought he deserved better wages, with Barcelona looking to save money to make some big signings this summer.

The winger was not even selected for some matches as the Catalans looked to pressurize him. Barcelona wanted him to either renew his contract or leave during the winter window in January so that the club could cash on the player, who they signed for $117 million from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

However, Dembele has had the backing of head coach Xavi Hernandez, who made it clear eventually that the France forward will play as long as he considered him to be necessary for his plans at Barcelona, according to Marca.com.

The way Xavi has changed things around at Camp Nou since his arrival in November has further helped Dembele’s situation. The Frenchman is excited to be a part of the Barcelona side that is returning to winning ways following a turmoil period earlier this season.

The support from Xavi has allowed Dembele to turn things around at Camp Nou over the last month or so. The player also has justified the faith the manager has shown in him by contributing seven assists and a goal in his last seven appearances in La Liga. As a reward, the club wants to give it another shot at tying 24-year-old Dembele down with a new long-term deal.

The last few weeks have seen a massive turnaround as the Catalans are unbeaten in 12 competitive matches across all competitions.

After spending quite some time in the second half of the points table, Barcelona have now climbed to No. 3 in the 2021-22 La Liga table. Barcelona recently thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 at Santiago Bernabeu in the league.