Ousmane Dembele asked Barcelona not to sign French defender during the winter transfer window

Barcelona Sets Sights on New Signings Amidst Summer Transfer Window

In order to address gaps in their starting lineup, Barcelona had plans to sign multiple players during the summer transfer window. Notably, Sergio Busquets had already made the decision to leave the club on a free transfer, while Ansu Fati and Ez Abde departed Catalonia in the closing days of the window.

One area that required reinforcement was the right-back position, as Jules Kounde expressed his dissatisfaction with playing in that role for another season. The talented Frenchman, who excels as a centre-back, desired a return to his preferred position.

Although Xavi was content with Sergi Roberto remaining on the team, it was clear that the Spaniard no longer possessed the quality needed for the starting lineup. Consequently, the club sought someone who would be comfortable playing in various wide and central positions.

Prior to securing Joao Cancelo, Barcelona had their sights set on Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich. Interestingly, this Frenchman had been on the club’s radar during the previous January window as well.

According to a SPORT article, it was Ousmane Dembele who advised Xavi and the team against signing Pavard during the January window earlier this year.

As a result, Barcelona halted their pursuit, and Pavard ultimately joined Inter Milan during the summer transfer window.

Conflicting Personality

Pavard served as the starting right-back for France when they won the World Cup in 2018 under the guidance of Didier Deschamps. However, during the 2022 edition, he found himself dropped from the lineup, with Jules Kounde taking his position.

Reports emerged from the French camp suggesting that players were dissatisfied with Pavard’s performances and overall quality. Notably, Ousmane Dembele was among those who expressed their discontent.

Additionally, there were claims that Pavard had a divisive personality and failed to integrate well with the rest of the team. This further solidified Dembele’s advice against signing him.

Eventually, Pavard himself departed Barcelona in the summer when Paris Saint-Germain came calling. Barcelona secured Joao Felix as his replacement, with Vitor Roque expected to arrive in the winter transfer window.