Dembele poised to join PSG, leave Barca

LAS VEGAS—Barcelona boss Xavi

Hernandez confirmed on Tuesday that Ousmane Dembele is poised to leave the Spanish giants after receiving an offer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Dembele, 26, was left on the bench on Tuesday as Barcelona wrapped up their North American pre-season tour with a 1-0 win over AC Milan in Las Vegas.

Afterward, Hernandez told Spanish television that French international Dembele -- who scored in last weekend’s victory over Real Madrid in Dallas -- had been left out after informing Barcelona he wanted to leave.

“I will be very clear,” Hernandez said. “He has asked us that he wants to leave, he has been very direct, that he has a proposal from Paris Saint-Germain, that they have called him from there and here we cannot do anything. It is his personal decision.

“To me, it hurts me because I think we have taken great care of him here so that he is happy and content and continues to make a difference for us.

“But he says that he has this proposal and that he has decided to leave. That is why he has not played today.”

Dembele, who joined Barcelona in 2017, has one year left on his contract with the La Liga giants.

Barcelona’s victory on Tuesday came courtesy of a spectacular second-half strike from Ansu Fati.

A lackluster game at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium was settled in the 55th minute after a counter-attack launched by Barcelona’s teenage left back Alejandro Balde.

The 19-year-old Spanish international passed to Fati just inside the Milan area and the forward cut in from the left before curling a superb shot into the top corner. AFP including fans, sponsors and players.”

PGA commissioner Jay Monahan, under fire from many players over handling of the LIV talks since he made the announcement, said future rule changes will require the involvement and approval of the six player directors from the board, including Woods and Rory McIlroy.

That gives player representatives an upper hand on the 11-member board and the power in all decisions regarding any final agreement with the Saudis.

The special advisor to the player directors, Colin Neville, will be fully aware of the state of talks on the “framework agreement” with LIV, which the board must approve by the end of the year in order for the controversial merger to oc cur.

“The players thank commissioner Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns and we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love,” Woods said.

“He has my confidence moving forward with these changes.”

The Washington Post reported that 41 PGA Tour players -- including stars McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler -sent Monahan a letter on Monday asking Woods be added to the policy board and the tour’s governance structure be reviewed immediately.

PGA player Charley Hoffman said Woods pushed for a place among the decision makers and Monahan had little choice than to agree.

“Tiger has done more for golf than arguably anybody,” Hoffman said. “To have him sit in those meetings now is very powerful and I think his voice will be listened to.”

And, he added, it will begin rebuilding the trust between Monahan and players.

“It’s a start. This is the best move we’ve made in the past few months,” he said. “It’s Tiger coming up with it and I think he wants to be part of the PGA Tour going forward.”

Woods, 47, has been limited in his ability to play in recent years by severe mononucleosis.

Once back on court he qualified for the French Open, but didn’t make it out of the first round.

Shang’s reward for Tuesday’s win will be a meeting with American second seed Frances Tiafoe, who opened his campaign with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) win over Russia’s Aslan Karatsev.

“Unbelievable match tonight. It was so tight all the way through, he really made me earn it,” Tiafoe said afterward.

“I’m just happy to get through. He’s a tough player, he’s made the semis of a Grand Slam and he’s very, very dangerous. Very tough first round.”

Elsewhere Tuesday, former world number four Kei Nishikori of Japan withdrew with a left knee injury before his scheduled first-round match against South Africa Lloyd Harris.

Nishikori, 33, returned to competition from a 20-month injury absence in June, winning a low-tier Challenger Tour title in Puerto Rico before reaching the quarter-finals last week in Atlanta in his first ATP tournament since 2021. AFP leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash. Monahan said having the leadership and voice of Woods is “welcomed and impactful” as he tries to complete the PGA-LIV deal.

“I’m committed to taking the necessary steps to restore any lost trust or confidence that occurred as a result of the surprise announcement of our framework agreement,” Monahan said. “Any agreement we reach must be shaped by our members’ input and approval earned through our player directors.” AFP