Ousmane Dembélé Gives Candid Reflections on Barcelona Experience

Ousmane Dembélé left FC Barcelona last summer when Paris Saint-Germain paid €50.4 million for the Frenchman. The winger is months into his first season in the French capital, but he reflected on his time with the Catalan side.

Dembélé recently spoke with Le Parisien and recounted the affection that he had for playing at Barcelona. Furthermore, he notes what it meant to him to have played alongside the likes of Andrés Iniesta and Lionel Messi.

“My first jersey was that of England, with David Beckham on it,” Dembélé told the French media outlet (h/t Le10Sport). “Afterward, I liked Steven Gerrard, and then I knew Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and FC Barcelona… Messi has always been my favorite player. 

“It was him, Guardiola, and Iniesta who made me love Barça. That’s why I always dreamed of playing there. When I signed there, I made a dream come true. Playing with Iniesta for his last year and Lionel Messi was incredible.”

Dembélé has made 25 total appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and registering 10 assists for PSG. While not scoring or assisting in the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash, he did have a hand in the two goals. 

The 26-year-old is beginning to settle into PSG, and if the capital club wants to go far in the Champions League this season, they’ll need Dembélé to play at his best level.