BARCELONA:
Dembélé will not move
World champion at age 21, Dembélé has an innate talent for football, an unstoppable speed and, luckily, he plays for Barça. And will continue to do it. Of course, for now, he has fewer minutes than he would like or would not think. There is the problem. When Robert was looking for him after his first year in Rennes, Dembélé had said no to Barça. Not yet. He admitted that, being so young, he did not want to be part of a team in which the Neymar - Suárez - Messi trident was playing hard and could not stand a chance. A year later, after his success at PSG, Dembélé had a good first season in Dortmund - and at an exorbitant price - he wanted to realize his dream of playing at Camp Nou. He came to play. In his early days, he has already helped for the goal scored by Suarez. But he was injured on the first trip. The delicate operation took him four months in dry dock. Then, a muscle injury was used to suspend the fragile tag. The race was already unstoppable. Its spectacular finale of the season, which nobody seems to remember, served as the basis for the French call of the World Cup in Russia.
Now, his dissatisfaction just did not play. Valverde's vaunted meritocrácia disappears when the Frenchman, who has won 9 consecutive titles with a remarkable performance, scored 5 goals that give a title (the Super Cup) and 6 points (the two victories to Pucela and Anoeta). Wembley has a good night and stays out of the team. After the chestnut pilongas against Girona, Leganés and Athletic realize that he is the only one to pay the duck. With Arthur's entry to London, the coach feels Dembélé. Till today. So the team has more control and balance and defends better and ... Coutinho and Suarez look like untouchables with Messi. Surprisingly, the press quoting Dembélé will remember more about his infamous second half against Sevilla - football and indolence - than the fundamental role played by Ousmane at the beginning of the season. The reputation of the losers has conquered the media, not to mention that only those who negotiate, those who run the risk, those who play, lose the ball. Or does not Messi lead this facet?
But it is not only Valverde, for tactical reasons, that pushed Dembélé to become the target of the target. I look, stunned, as everyone dares with him. Inside, they filter the fact that he did not eat well the first year. Others say he arrived late at the stadium on Inter day. On the field, his teammates make too much noise when he does not pass the ball and Rakitic tells him publicly not to tie the shoes when he has to return to the field to replace the injured Messi. Too much with Dembélé.
On the other hand, they rub their hands. Seeing that a global talent like him does not play, has no continuity or confidence in Barça, it makes sense that Liverpool, Chelsea, PSG or anyone who sees Dembele as an opportunity. But nobody with responsibilities in Barça football, neither in the offices nor on the surface, thought of selling it. They know that it is a diamond to polish and, if he strives and decides that sports success is his priority in his life, Dembélé will go down in history. Only you have to convince Valverde that this is necessary inside 11. This is always done. And fight even more when things do not go the way you want. It's life.
