Barcelona defender unhappy with Xavi as relationship turns sour due to failed promise - Reports
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde reportedly has a strained relationship with manager Xavi Hernandez due to consistently finding himself playing in an unfamiliar right-back position.
The Frenchman left Sevilla to move to the Camp Nou last summer for a fee of €55 million with add-ons. According to AS (h/t El Nacional), the club promised that he would play in the centre-back role and not as a full-back.
However, a dearth of full-back options at Xavi's disposal has seen the Frenchman become Barcelona's first-choice right-back in recent months. He's reportedly unhappy playing down the flanks and wants to play in central defense.
Curiously, left-back Marcos Alonso has seen himself playing as a centre-back on occasions this season. Andreas Christensen returned to the starting XI at the expense of Alonso against Real Betis earlier on Saturday (April 29).
However, Kounde found himself playing at right-back in his team's impressive 4-0 La Liga win at home. That's, of course, not the 24-year-old's natural position, and his performances in recent weeks have left a lot to be desired at times.
Barcelona are aware that they need a natural right-back, with the club loaning Sergio Dest to AC Milan last summer and selling Hector Bellerin to Sporting CP in January. Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo has seemingly emerged as an option.
Xavi happy to have Ousmane Dembele available for selection at Barcelona
Xavi Hernandez said that Barcelona missed Ousmane Dembele during his three-month absence due to injury.
The French winger picked up a hamstring issue in his team's 1-0 La Liga win against Girona on January 28. He made his much-awaited return in Barcelona's 4-0 win against Real Betis at the weekend, coming on in the 73rd minute for Raphinha.
Before his team's clash against Betis, Xavi said (via BarcaBlaugranes):
"We have missed Ousmane. He is the best player we have in one-on-one situations. There are few better than him. His recovery has taken longer, but he is back, and he is happy. ... It’s great news to have him available."
The 25-year-old has eight goals and seven assists in 29 games across competitions this season. He's expected to replace Raphinha in the starting XI in the coming weeks.
There's no real reason for Xavi to risk the former Borussia Dortmund forward unless he's fully match-fit, though. The Blaugrana are out of all cup competitions and sit 11 points clear atop the league with just six games remaining.