When he spoke about Ousmane Dembélé, Xavi's tone initially left doubt. Some expected an update, or even a settling of scores. It must be said that their separation, in the summer of 2023, took place in a tense climate, between personal disappointment and a feeling of betrayal. The Catalan technician, who had never really mentioned his former protégé since his departure for PSG, finally had his media revenge. At least that's what everyone thought.
Words of recognition rather than reproaches
Because to everyone's surprise, Xavi expressed neither resentment nor bitterness. Quite the contrary. Questioned by Foot Mercato after Dembélé's Ballon d'Or coronation, the former Barça coach delivered a vibrant tribute:
“Ousmane is an exceptional player. We knew from the moment he arrived that he had enormous potential. We worked a lot to make him feel good and happy. He has progressed enormously with us. » Words which contrast with past tensions and confirm that, despite the hurt of their separation, Xavi remains admiring of the journey of his former winger.
The relationship between the two men has always oscillated between passion and frustration. Xavi had believed in Dembélé as in few players, going so far as to challenge the club's management to keep him. But the Frenchman's departure for Paris had left its mark. Today, the Catalan coach seems calm : “In Paris, it exploded. He is happy there, he feels like the star of the team and the project. And they won the Champions League, where he shone. The Ballon d’Or is deserved. » A strong statement that erases past grudges to retain only success.
Xavi & Dembelé, a long-distance reconciliation
Symbolically, these words mark a silent reconciliation between the student and the mentor. Two years after their breakup, Xavi greets the man he called his “world crack”without bitterness, without regrets. By recognizing Dembélé's full maturity in the Parisian jersey, he proves that admiration goes beyond disappointment. It is the recognition of a coach who sees his intuition validated: the player he had shaped has become what he promised to be.
This message of esteem closes a story made of emotions, trust and wounds. Between them, there are no more rancor, only the realization of a fulfilled destiny. Xavi was right: Dembélé could be the best. And if he didn't realize this dream in Barcelona, he achieved it elsewhere. Paradoxically, this success also recognizes the legacy of his former coach – the one who was the first to believe in him when no one believed in him anymore.
