Barcelona have been blessed enough to find quality wingers wearing their colors from year to year, with the likes of Neymar, Messi, and Ronaldinho being a few to name. However, even too much quality can at times become a burden for the coaching staff and players alike.
The Catalans currently possess two forwards that primarily prefer to operate as right-wingers, with a certain Frenchman and the new Brazilian arrival having to contest for minutes between them. Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha are both currently 26 years old and in the best shape of their careers. However, if the club is forced to make a decision, it could be one less by the time the new season kicks off.
According to trusted Catalan journalist Gerard Romero, there are two different sets of thought processes within FC Barcelona that are torn between what to do with both players. Romero states that in the mind of the club and its higher representatives, it remains best to ensure Ousmane Dembele’s departure and retain the services of the ex-Leeds United man Raphinha.
This could possibly be due to the investment they have just recently made on the Brazilian in the summer, as well as the fact that they may believe Dembele to be unreliable in the long run due to his knack of picking up injuries from time to time and leaving the team exposed in a very important area in terms of quality alternatives, something that wasn’t allowed to be felt so vividly this season due to the more than competent presence of Raphinha in the Frenchman’s stead.
On the other hand, exists the thought process of the coaching staff led by Xavi Hernandez, who believe instead that the departures of other players should suffice on the grounds of economic benefits and that the club should retain both Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha simultaneously.
While not a bad concept in theory, as this strategy would allow the club to be completely assured in terms of the right-wing position with the guarantee that they possess two elite wingers that can cover for one another should one be unavailable.
Moreover, Dembele possesses the rare ability to be a deadly winger on either side of the field, so both the Frenchman and Brazilian can even be deployed together.
As it stands, thus far the club has put three players on the transfer list, a list which does not include the Frenchman or the Brazilian in it as of right now. It remains to be seen what the consensus ends up being between the club and coaching staff as the season comes to a close soon.
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