Ferran Torres’ move to Barcelona made Dembele raise his salary demand – report

Barcelona signing Ferran Torres amidst financial obscurity hasn’t bode well for Ousmane Dembele and his representatives. As reported by SPORT, Dembele’s entourages have seen it as an opportunity and have now increased their demand as they are locked in a negotiation with the club.

The Frenchman is in the last six months of his current contract and is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club outside of Spain. While the player is in no rush, the fact that Barcelona have asked him to reduce his salary has made him evidently unhappy.

Suggested read: Ousmane Dembele’s borrowed time at Barcelona has run out

Times are tough in the Barcelona camp. The Catalans have paid €55 million for Ferran Torres but are unable to register him as they are well beyond La Liga’s salary cap rule. 

Now, Barcelona can put forward an argument that the offered contract with a lower salary is based on his performance and fitness record of the past few years, but the same wasn’t mentioned before when they paid a hefty price for Torres.

Speaking about the situation, manager Xavi seemed quite vocal, saying that it is disheartening to see the situation heading into a stalemate.

“I’m not disappointed, it’s a negotiation,” said Xavi ahead of the Real Mallorca game. 

“It’s true that often a player’s agents make things very complicated. Barca has been very clear about its position. It’s now a question of negotiating. We know his position. We need to come together and row in the same direction. I think the offer for the player is fantastic. We’ll see in the next few days,” he added.

As things are, it is safe to say there is no shortage of suitors. Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly looking at Dembele as a potential replacement of Kylian Mbappe while there are rumours circulating around a swap deal with Manchester United involving Anthony Martial.

The World Cup winner now has his doubts over Barcelona’s intentions. According to the report, he thinks that the club want to renew him in an attempt to sell him in the coming windows.

Dembele’s camp questioned Barcelona’s pursuit of Erling Haaland as well, saying something along the lines of “You say there’s no money to agree to our demands while you go for Haaland?”

The negotiation might as well take an ugly turn as the Frenchman’s agents, who had sacrificed their previous commissions, are now wondering how did Barcelona make payments for Torres’ representatives.

One thing which is clear is the fact that the two parties are locked in a stalemate as Dembele will outrightly reject a contract with a lower salary while Barcelona are seeming adamant on those figures.