In a recent press conference on Friday, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu provided an update on Ousmane Dembele’s future at the Nou Camp and said (via the Metro), ‘Dembele is young, talented, different,
‘I consider him to be better than Neymar, he has a lot to grow and we want him to do it here.
‘Dembele and Coutinho are are a fundamental part of the squad for the coach.’
The bookies had slashed Liverpool’s odds from 20/1 to 6/1 for signing Dembele recently (via talkSPORT), but it seems like they have got it wrong as the Catalans are unwilling to let him leave during this summer transfer window.
The French Winger’s Spell At The Nou Camp
Dembele enjoyed a fruitful season at Barcelona in the last term after he put in a series of goal-scoring displays for them in the La Liga. The French wing wizard showed some glimpses of his brilliance, but he struggled to secure a regular starting berth in Ernesto Valverde’s first-team.
The La Liga sensation has remarkable potential to be one of the greats of European football. The 22-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in a total of 46 matches for Barca in the Spanish top-flight across all competitions. Dembele has also gained 21 international caps for France and has registered two goals for his country thus far.
What Does Dembele Offer On The Pitch?
Dembele has blistering pace and can play on either wing even though he is primarily a right-sided wide player. The Vernon-born speedster can trouble the opposition defenders consistently using his pace and trickery on the flanks. He is also a regular goal-scorer when he is firing on all cylinders up top.
However, the Barca youngster is far from a finished product and could struggle if he is starved of first-team opportunities in the upcoming campaign.
Barcelona’s Unwillingness To Sell Dembele: What Now For Klopp?
There is no doubt that a winger of Dembele’s skillset would have improved Jurgen Klopp’s attacking options at Anfield. However, the Reds will now have to swallow the bitter pill of missing out on him this summer. Thus, Klopp would be wise to consider other options as Barca will be too stubborn with their demands for the French talent in this summer window.
