Dembele: "I was at my dream club, Barcelona"

Ousmane Dembele arrived at FC Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for a staggering 135 million euros, brought in to fill the void left by Neymar’s departure. The weight of expectation was enormous, but his time in Catalonia was constantly disrupted by injuries.

Six years later, in 2023, he left for Paris Saint-Germain in a 50 million euros deal. Since then, he has lifted the Champions League trophy and even entered the conversation for the Ballon d’Or.

Wings of Saints cut in half: Dembele and Doue to miss several Champions League games

Speaking to Four Four Two, Dembele reflected candidly on his turbulent spell at Barca. "It was complicated, especially because I came to this club after only 18 months as a professional. Coming into a dressing room like Barcelona's at 20, with all the stars... it was simply extraordinary. After that, you had to adapt. For three or four years, I had no luck with injuries. But I was doing what I was passionate about—and I was at my dream club, Barcelona," he recalled.

Even though his stint was overshadowed by physical setbacks and constant scrutiny, Dembele insists he looks back on it positively. "I'm happy about everything that happened to me in Barcelona, because that's where I grew as a person – on and off the pitch. I made many friends with whom I'm still in contact today. It was an extraordinary time, and above all, a time of learning."

Those injury struggles, he says, reshaped his outlook on football entirely. "After joining Barcelona, I didn't go to the gym as often. I used to just jump onto the pitch. After one, two, three, four injuries, you understand that you have to take care of your body, that top-level football is demanding, and that it's not just about talent or waking up and jumping straight onto the pitch. I understood that I had to work, that I had to get stronger, that I had to eat well and sleep well. I understood everything."