Barcelona on dembele transfer rumours

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has played down the possibility of Ousmane Dembele leaving Camp Nou this season with rumors

that his exit would facilitate a potential Antoine Griezmann move from the Spanish capital.

The discussions about selling Dembele seemed insane at the time and Bartomeu seems to have thought so as well.

"The option of selling him is not on the table. We are finishing the season and then there will be meetings.

"He’s an investment for the future. He is very young and we expect a lot from him."

The key word for any skeptics

to pick out of these quotes is that Bartomeu said “selling” when talking about Dembele leaving.

Bartomeu didn’t purely rule out the option of a loan. So theoretically that option is still on the table. Because it’s football, and loaning out one of the most expensive players in history 12 months after you’ve signed him is feasible.