Gaspart heats things up: “Dembélé has to play”

The former president of Barça says that Dembélé is a mug, but he does not care that he continues playing

He defends Xavi’s decision and is sure that if the Frenchman plays, he will perform

The former president of Barça, Joan Gaspart, is always in your face and direct whenever he speaks. He has made his feelings clear about the intricacy surrounding Ousmane Dembélé’s contract renewal and Xavi’s decision to make him play after he has neither renewed nor wanted to leave in this winter market.

Although Gaspart is very angry with Dembele’s attitude, he defends the coach’s decision. “ In life you cannot be cuckolded and beaten and I think that if Barça is paying Dembélé until the last day and has him in the stands, that is being cuckolded and beaten . If Xavi wants him to play it is because he knows that the Frenchman has a lot to give to Barca. I’m sure that if he plays, he won’t walk around the field. He has done things that we don’t like, but also others that we like, as a great player”, said the former president in an interview on the program El 10 del Barça.

Criticizing Dembele’s Agent

After defending Xavi’s decision to pardon Dembélé, he has gone on to criticize the Frenchman and his representative. “He is a professional who has left aside what I will never leave behind, which is his passion for Barça and the statements made by both him and his representative have not pleased me or the fans, but he is here, let him play.”

Gaspart has been tougher when asked about the possible continuity of Dembélé, calling the Frenchman a mug. “ If he plays and scores goals, it won’t matter to me that the mug is playing for Barça and continues at Barça . In history we have had many mugs that have been good on the pitch. What we want is for Barça to win and Dembélé is a great player”.

The 24-year-old French forward rejected a new contract extension offer from Barcelona this season, expressing that he deserves a pay raise. Joan Laporta, the president of FC Barcelona also revealed that Dembele initially reacted positively to the new offer but later rejected it. Barcelona’s board thinks that Dembele has a pre contract with another club and will leave for free in the summer.