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With his contract renewal saga at Barcelona reaching reaching the apex of its tension, French winger Ousmane Dembélé has released a statement on his Instagram to explain himself.
The announcement comes in the wake of reports that Barcelona would leave him out of the team for the remainder of his contract should he not renew, while director Mateu Alemany has categorically stated that the former Rennes man is to leave the club, with contract negotiations not advancing.
In particular, the Frenchman addresses rumours over his character: “For the last four years, I’ve made the choice to never respond, to never try to justify myself. Was this an error? Definitely. From today, that’s over.”
“[…] I am 24, and like any man I have faults and imperfections. I’ve had difficult periods, injuries, I’ve been hit with Covid-19. Without having trained, coach called on me and I always answered the call without batting an eyelid. […] I realise how lucky I am to have the best job in the world.”
“I will not allow anyone to say that I am not committed to the sporting project. […] Still under contract, I am fully involved and am making myself available to my club and my coach. I have always given my all for my teammates as well as for all of the supporters – and now’s not when that’ll end. I am not a man who cheats and even less one who is used to giving in to blackmail.”
