Xavi & Dembélé: Adama Traoré explains why his Barcelona return didn’t work out | OneFootball

Fulham star Adama Traoré has this week provided an insight into the reasoning behind his return to boyhood club Barcelona not working out.

Wide-man Traoré, of course, linked back up with Barca in January of 2022.

With funds lacking, and the Camp Nou brass desperate for reinforcements on the wing, the Spaniard was brought back to his home country for the 2nd half of the campaign.

Traoré’s time back in Blaugrana colours started in positive fashion, with the now-28-year-old having racked up a number of early assists.

Things, however, soon took a turn for the worse, as Traoré lost his place in attack, on his way to a total of just 11 La Liga appearances.

Speaking during an interview with Cadena SER this week, the subject of as much was, in turn, put to the explosive attacker himself.

And, in his response, Traoré went on to point towards the presence of Ousmane Dembélé, and Xavi’s preference for the Frenchman, as key:

“I have a thorn in my side [about it]. Halfway through my loan, there was a more personal change by the coach. I came to replace Dembélé, it was my turn to have that position, but Xavi stayed with him.

“Dembélé had a contract and I didn’t,” he concluded.

Traoré went on to add:

“As a youth player, I will always be a Barcelona fan. If I had the option, I would return, why not? But it would have to be under different circumstances.”

Conor Laird – GSFN