Sportorn is Designed to Keep You Up-to-Date with Everything You Need to Know About the World of Sport.
⎯ 《 Sportorn • Com 》

Sergi Roberto comments on Ousmane Dembele's 'disappointing' Barcelona exit

2023-08-03 19:49
Sergi Roberto expresses his disappointment towards Ousmane Dembele's desire to leave Barcelona for PSG.
Sergi Roberto comments on Ousmane Dembele's 'disappointing' Barcelona exit

New Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto has expressed his disappointment at Ousmane Dembele's decision to request a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca manager Xavi confirmed earlier this week that Dembele had formally requested to leave the club this summer, with 90min reporting that the France international had agreed personal terms to join PSG on a five-year deal.

Speaking to the press about Dembele's decision to leave Camp Nou this summer, new Barca captain Roberto admitted he was "disappointed" by the impending departure of the talented forward.

"It’s a shame because he’s a very important player for us," Roberto explained.

"We would have liked him to continue because he was with us for many years and he was a player who was very dear to the team. We all let him know. He made another decision… We’re sad to see him go, but we have to keep going. We have a great team and today we showed that we can compete with anyone.

"We are a little disappointed. When you love someone and want them to be with you, it’s a little disappointing when they decide to go somewhere else. It’s a job and everyone decides what’s best for them, for their career and for their family. He will have his reasons, but we have given him everything here and he knows he is an important player for us."

READ MORE FROM 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM

Barcelona had been in negotiations with Dembele over a new contract at the club, with the player having entered the final year of his current deal, however as Xavi explained on Wednesday the club were simply unable to compete with the financial package offered by PSG.

"We cannot compete with the proposal that they've made to him, it's out of our reach," the boss conceded.

"It's simple. He came to me with a proposal from PSG. Said that he wanted to leave, that he had spoken with Luis Enrique, with Nasser [Al-Khelaifi] and has a proposal with which we cannot compete.

"We have asked him the reason and he has not been able to answer. I sense that it will be something personal. Disappointed? Yes. The important thing is that he has been clear. I wish him luck."

LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST

On this week's edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Toby Cudworth is joined by Graeme Bailey to discuss the next steps in Bayern Munich's Harry Kane hunt, Brighton rejecting another Chelsea bid for Moises Caicedo, who has had the most impressive transfer window so far & more!

If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!

This article was originally published on 90min as Sergi Roberto comments on Ousmane Dembele's 'disappointing' Barcelona exit.