Dembele’s Barcelona resurrection finally gets the reward it deserves
Robin Bairner
- 15 Sept 2022 14:42 BST
- 3 min read
Ousmane Dembele has not always been a favourite of the Barcelona supporters over the course of the last year, but few would dispute the value that the winger has brought to the team since he regained his fitness in November 2021.
Despite playing only 21 matches, Dembele finished the 2021/22 La Liga season as the division’s leading assist maker on 13, enjoying a spectacular end to the campaign.
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There had been a threat that he would not even play in the second half of the season. Dembele was playing hardball with Barcelona over a new contract, and while Xavi indicated immediately that he thought highly of the former Borussia Dortmund winger, there was nevertheless the prospect of the Frenchman being left in the stands.
It has taken him only nine months following the injury and administrative hell to get back into the France national team, where he has not been since going off injured during a 1-1 draw with Hungary in Euro 2020.
Dembele’s deserved recall
Here are the 2️⃣3️⃣ Bleus called up for our last two Nations League games, with 3️⃣ new faces!
@BadiashileB, @YFofana19_ and Randal Kolo Muani 👋
22/09: 🇫🇷🇦🇹 at the Stade de France 🏟
25/09: 🇩🇰🇫🇷 in Copenhagen 🏟#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/Jbl1L3SoIY— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) September 15, 2022
There is little doubt that Dembele deserves his chance to add to his 27 caps, a remarkably small number given his talent but entirely in keeping with his injury record since moving to Spain in 2017.
After close to a year unbroken by injury issues, Dembele is nearing his best level. His numbers this season are formidable. In seven outings, he has two goals and four assists to his credit.
This comes off the backdrop of him only signing a new contract with Barcelona in July, which meant that he needed to be re-registered with La Liga and was one of those under threat of missing the opening league matches of the season with Rayo Vallecano.
Barca might have lost the player to another top club had he a better fitness level, but without any other offers, he re-signed for the Camp Nou side. It has proven an ideal match for both. In a resurgent Barca, Dembele has been to the forefront, displaying his skills and pace to a level rarely seen since he moved to Camp Nou.
His France call is reward for what he has produced this season, and both his club and country will reap the benefits from his talents. Dembele’s quality has never been in doubt, just his ability to take to the field and show it.
