Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez and his coaching staff are reportedly at loggerheads with the club’s chiefs over the future of Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha.
According to reports by Barca Universal quoting Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, Barcelona bosses Joan Laporta and Mateu Alemany are open to selling French winger Dembele this summer to balance their books.
The Catalan club must sell players this summer or drastically reduce their wage bill to qualify to sign new players in the coming transfer window.
They are considering selling two or three key players to achieve that aim. Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres are likely to leave, but there are disagreements between Xavi and the club over the future of Raphinha and Dembele.
Joan Laporta and the board think the Frenchman leaving will be good for the club as they will potentially get €50 million from his sale-Dembele has a €50 release clause on his current deal. His departure will also free up space in terms of the salary he earns.
However, Xavi wants Dembele to remain at Barca beyond this season, as he sees the French winger as a key cog in the team. The Catalan coach has the same feeling towards Brazilian winger Raphinha, another player whose future at the club is uncertain.
Although injuries have blighted Dembele’s season, the former Borussia Dortmund winger has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 32 competitive games. Raphinha, meanwhile, has contributed ten goals and 12 assists in 47 appearances this season.
Meanwhile, Demebele’s contract at Camp Nou expires next year, so he might require a hefty wage increase to commit to a new deal.
