Things have got even worse for Ousmane Dembele. This Sunday, Xavi asked all of his players to come to the training complex first thing in the morning, according to 'AS'. Everyone was there apart from Dembele. The media outlet reports that the player rang in to say he felt unwell and that the club are thinking of punishing him.
Barcelona take on Alaves at Estadio Mendizorroza and Dembele will not play in the game as Xavi decided to leave him out of the squad list.
The winger had already imagined that he would not figure in the coach's plans. 'AS' suggests that is the reason why he did not turn up at the training complex on Sunday morning.
All the players were requested to be there first thing on Sunday morning. However, Dembele did not appear. Barcelona got in contact with him so that he could speak to Xavi before the coach revealed the squad list.
'AS' says that Dembele claimed he felt "unwell" with stomach problems. For that, he told them not to wait for him at the training complex.
Barcelona apparently do not believe this version of events. They believe that he did not go to avoid finding out in person that he would be left out of the squad for yet another week. In any case, the club said on social media that the no-show was "due to a stomach upset."
The club have reportedly told Dembele that he will be punished for breaking the rules Xavi set when he took over as coach. Not only that, but the judicial department of the club could also be looking at it, so the punishment could be even more severe.
There is notable tension at the club..Barca have told Dembele to leave and the Frenchman's response has not gone down well with the club at all.