Dembélé remembers Barça during the Champions League celebrations

Ousmane Dembélé completed the best season of his life by winning the treble with Paris Saint-Germain. In the midst of the celebrations for obtaining the first Champions League in history for the French club, the 28-year-old winger surprised everyone by remembering FC Barcelona.

The Vernon native left the Blaugrana team in the summer of 2023 to sign for PSG in exchange for 50 million euros, 85 'kilos' less than what the 'culés' paid Borussia Dortmund for his transfer in 2017.

"I arrived at Barça at 20 years old. It was the club of my dreams. I will never offend or disrespect Barcelona, in any way. It is the club I always dreamed of", commented the Parisian '7' after winning his first 'big-eared' trophy in Munich.

Dembélé seeks to smooth things over with Barça after the 2024 visit

These statements of respect for the Blaugrana team contrast with his attitude on the field during the return leg of the Champions League quarter-finals 23/24, where the 'Mosquito' was a key player, scoring one of the goals in the Parisian comeback (1-4).

Although he did not return any gesture to the Montjuïc stands, 'Dembouz' celebrated his goal with euphoria and was very smiling during most of the night in which Xavi Hernández's team was eliminated.

Related

Ousmane Dembélé 'passes' the whistles of Montjuïc and confirms that he does not hold a grudge agains

In his time in Barcelona, Ousmane scored 40 goals and provided 41 assists in 185 official matches. Although he won three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles and another pair of Spanish Super Cups, his time at the club was disappointing and ruinous, as his transfer and contract represented an enormous expense. 

In Paris, however, the Vernon native has gone from strength to strength, with a total of 39 goals and 29 assists in 91 matches. In addition to the Champions League, he has already won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France twice, as well as the local Super Cup. Now, he is going for the Club World Cup with Luis Enrique's team.

Dembélé and PSG dominate the ideal XI of the Champions League 24/25

The 'Mosquito' and the MVP of the final against Inter, Desiré Doué, were the forwards chosen by UEFA for their ideal XI of the season. A line-up with Blaugrana presence in which Lamine Yamal and Raphinha appear as wingers.

The Brazilian was the tournament's Pichichi with 13 goals and leader in assists (9), while the Mataró native, finally, finished second in the 'race' for the best young player (Doué won). The rest of the ideal team is made up of Donarumma in goal, while Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are the full-backs.

In the center of the defense appear Marquinhos and Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), along with Vitinha and Declan Rice (Arsenal) in the center of the field. In total, 7 PSG players appear in the ideal XI, accompanied by 2 'culés', 1 'nerazzurri' and 1 'gunner'.

Dembélé, for his part, took the distinction of best player, although his records (8 goals and 6 assists) were more discreet than those of Raphinha. Logically, winning the final made the difference in favor of Luis Enrique's team.

IDEAL XI OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024/25:

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
2. Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
3. Marquinhos (PSG)
4. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
5. Nuno Mendes (PSG)
6. Vitinha (PSG)
7. Declan Rice (Arsenal)
8. Lamine Yamal (Barça)
9. Raphinha (Barça)
10. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) - best player of the tournament
11. Desiré Doué (PSG) - best young player