Spanish international forward Ferran Torres jokingly affirmed that he would be ready to "kidnap" his teammate Ousmane Dembele to convince him to stay at Barcelona, especially given Dembele's recent form. Coach Xavi Hernandez also spoke about working to extend the contract of the French winger.
Dembele is expected to leave "Camp Nou" next summer as a free agent after deciding not to renew his contract with the Catalan club, which he has been part of since 2017 after joining from Borussia Dortmund for €105 million plus €40 million in bonuses.
Since Xavi took over coaching duties in early November, replacing the dismissed Ronald Koeman, Dembele has regained some of his form from Dortmund and has played a crucial role in Barcelona's resurgence, now standing second with the same points as reigning champions Atletico Madrid and Sevilla (57), while trailing leaders Real Madrid by 12 points with a game in hand.
Reports indicate that the French player's agent met this week with Barcelona’s sporting director, Mateu Alemany, to discuss the possibility of reversing the decision to leave and signing a new contract with the Catalan giant.
In a press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, Torres stated, "I'll kidnap him to keep him" at Barcelona, adding: "He makes a difference. He is one of the best players in the world, and this is a great club. It’s his decision, and I wish him the best."
In January, Xavi told the French winger that he needed to make a decision regarding his contract extension or leave immediately to avoid departing in the summer without a fee, but the former Rennes winger did not find any team and remained at "Camp Nou."
Given this reality, Xavi decided to take advantage of the 24-year-old's presence to help the team return to form and aim for a position qualifying for next season's Champions League. Xavi’s decision proved wise, as Dembele played a key role in the Catalan club's comeback alongside a group of young "Blaugrana" players and new addition from Arsenal, Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
