Robert Fernandez's strange method to try and sign Ousmane Dembele
The sporting director asked a Juvenil A player to get in touch with the then Rennes player
It did not go to plan and Dembele ended up signing for German side Borussia Dortmund
Ousmane Dembele is one of Barcelona's transfer targets this summer. It's almost impossible that they sign him, though, given the amount Borussia Dortmund want for the France forward, close to 90 million euros. Barca wanted him last summer, too, but the moves made by the club to convince him to come to Camp Nou did not go well.
Dembele had burst on to the scene at Rennes and Barça's sporting director Robert Fernandez had good reports on him. The problem was getting the player to listen to Barcelona's offer. Robert thought the best way would be through a young French player in the Catalan club's Juvenil A team, Theo Chendri.
Robert sent a Whatsapp to Theo asking him to act as an intermediary, to the surprise of the player. The academy player had not been offered a new contract and was due to leave the club soon. Robert's message was not to deal with his future, though, but that of his compatriot. The club wanted him to give them a hand. Theo distance himself from the idea.
The method employed by Robert did not work. Barça had left it late and their method was peculiar. Dembele, meanwhile, loved the project on offer at Borussia Dortmund, was sold for 15 million euros and the Blaugrana were left without one of Europe's most promising players.
Theo Chendry had to leave Barça and signed for Nantes, where he's trying to make his mark on the world of football. He never heard from Robert Fernandez again.
