Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is trying a last-ditch effort to keep Ousmane Dembele in his squad after the French winger has agreed to personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain.
The club legend told Dembele to think about former Barca player Neymar, who left the Catalan club via the most expensive transfer fee ever at about $250 million in 2017.
While the Brazilian superstar has 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 appearances with the French club, his stint is considered underwhelming since they've not been able to find Champions League success, and Neymar has not returned to the Ballon d'Or podium since 2017.
Kylian Mbappe also took the torch in the French capital, standing in as their main man instead of the Brazilian.
Xavi also highlighted Neymar's repeated attempts to return to the Spanish club over the past few years. Moreover, the Barcelona boss has defended Dembele amid his multiple injuries.
Neymar was "crazy" about a return to Barcelona this summer, according to Joan Laporta 👀 pic.twitter.com/wClkuyIhs1
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 7, 2021
The 43-year-old tactician considers Dembele an integral part of his plans, and he's hoping that the player will back out from a move to PSG after an intense discussion at the Thompson Hotel in Dallas.
Read more: Ousmane Dembele Barcelona Departure Imminent After Agreeing to Terms With PSG
PSG agrees on private clause with Barcelona
PSG was supposed to activate Dembele's release clause of $55 million. However, his contract states that the clause figure will rise to $110 million after July 31, 2023, and the move failed to commence by that time.
However, the two clubs have agreed on a private clause that will keep the fee to $55 million, but Barca would get to keep a bigger share of it instead of the prior arrangement, where Dembele's team would get a considerable share.
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