FC Barcelona saved 1.5 million euro by not starting Ousmane Dembélé in the last two games of the season, as doing so for either match would have triggered a bonus payment.
Had he played at least 45 minutes in either game, it would have been Dembélé’s 150th game playing at least one half in a match for Barcelona, and thus a 1.5 million payment would have been granted.
The Frenchman had been Xavi’s starter for most of the time he’s been in charge, but he was absent from the starting XI in games against Getafe and Villarreal.