Barcelona have decided to offer Ousmane Dembele a new contract. However, it will reportedly come with a condition. The Frenchman will receive an offer that is fitness based.
On 27 September 2016, Real Madrid were guests of Borussia Dortmund. It was a Champions League first leg group stage match. The game ended 2-2, with Dortmund coming from behind twice to hold the eventual champions.
Ousmane Dembele was in the Dortmund team that night, and he ran rings around the Real Madrid defence. The Frenchman at 19 proved that he had something special inside of him, prompting FC Barcelona to make a bid for him.
Dembele arrived at the Catalan club in the summer of 2017. Since his arrival, it has been a free fall for the Frenchman.
Dembele is undoubtedly a talented player, but he seems to have taken over the mantle from Arjen Robben. Over the years, Dembele has been unable to stay away from the treatment table.
Dembele’s never-ending injury woes
Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 for a transfer fee of €105 million, plus a reported €40 million add-ons. Since his arrival, Dembele has been unable to stay consistently fit as he is always one injury away from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The former Rennes player has not been bang on the money for Barcelona, who are unwilling to let the player go due to his heavy outlay. The Frenchman has, however, not repaid the investment made on him.
Spanish publication Marca reports that since the arrival of Dembele at Barcelona, he has missed almost 100 games with three surgeries performed on him.
New Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez wants to tie Dembele to a new contract despite his several injury woes. According to the former Barca midfielder, Dembele's contract renewal is a priority. This will come as no surprise, especially with the recent interest in the player. Just last week, it was suggested that Newcastle were interested in the Frenchman.
If the player is continually unfit, it makes no sense to offer him a new contract. Barcelona may have found a way around the problem.
Barcelona, Dembele and a different kind of offer
Dembele is an ambidextrous player. He is quick, creative and is comfortable with both feet. On his day, few wingers in the world can lay claim to being better than him. Minus his injuries, Dembele boasts the potential to rule the world, and it is that potential that has kept him at the Blaugrana.
Sport reports that Barcelona wants to offer him a contract that is match dependent. It will entail the player earns based on variables that match participation based.
Sport continues that Dembele would receive about the same as he currently does if he stays fit.
The contract Barcelona are placing before Dembele is known as the Alemany formula. Mateu Alemany used the method while at Mallorca and Valencia.
It is now up to Dembele to accept or refuse the offer, with his current contract set to expire next year.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
