He Rejected Leicester After Call with Claudio Ranieri – Then Sealed £135m Barcelona Move

He Rejected Leicester After Call with Claudio Ranieri – Then Sealed £135m Barcelona Move

A surprising story from the football archives has resurfaced, revealing how a single phone call with Claudio Ranieri led to a £135m transfer to Barcelona being set in motion.

French star Ousmane Dembélé, now regarded as one of the world’s top talents, once turned down the chance to join Leicester City under Ranieri. This was shortly after Leicester’s fairytale Premier League triumph in 2016.

Dembélé, then a rising star at Rennes, had attracted interest from several top European clubs. Leicester made a move, hoping to bolster their squad for a Champions League campaign. Ranieri personally called the young winger to convince him to join the Foxes. However, the conversation did not go as planned.

Reports suggest Dembélé was left unconvinced by Ranieri’s vision and the club’s future plans. Instead, he chose to join Borussia Dortmund, where his rapid development caught the attention of European giants.

 

Just a year later, in 2017, Barcelona came calling. They splashed a staggering £135m to secure Dembélé’s services as a replacement for Neymar. It was a transfer that changed the course of his career, propelling him onto the global stage.

While injuries have hampered parts of his time at the Nou Camp, Dembélé has still showcased his brilliance, winning multiple La Liga titles and becoming a key figure for the French national team.

Leicester fans often wonder what could have been if Dembélé had chosen the King Power Stadium. However, his decision to reject Ranieri ultimately paved the way for one of the most expensive transfers in football history.