'Many things he didn't understand' - Luis Enrique's 'significant confrontation' with Ousmane Dembele revealed as ex-Barcelona chief reveals 'mistakes' with PSG superstar

Former sporting director Robert Fernandez, who was key in helping the Catalans sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, recently admitted that Barca made many mistakes in the handling of the Frenchman. Fernandez also explained the key difference between Barcelona and PSG boss Luis Enrique's approach with Dembele, highlighting how he unlocked his potential to the maximum at Parc des Princes.

Speaking to AS, Fernandez explained why Dembele has thrived at PSG, acknowledging that Barca as a club didn't figure out the best way to deal with him.

"Ousmane came to Barcelona too young and, as soon as he arrived, he suffered a misfortune at Getafe, a hamstring injury that really hurt him. Being so young, there were many things he didn't understand, and we also made mistakes by not knowing how to rectify that situation," he said.

“Barcelona are a club with many interests and many different views among the press and fans. Ousmane was a good player who needed to be given time because he had two injuries. Many things were said at Barcelona that weren't true, like that he went out a lot at night. Then he was often accused of being late to training, but many players arrive late. They are protected. Dembele was very vulnerable at Barcelona; they always waited for him to be seen.”

“Luis Enrique, who deserves all the good things he's getting as a coach, had a significant confrontation a few months ago (with Dembele) because he understood that he could have given him much more than he was, and look at what he's doing now."

Dembele arrived at Barca in a sensational €148 million move from Dortmund in the summer of 2017. However, his time at Camp Nou was constantly hampered by fitness issues, lack of consistency, and rumours of off-field distractions. The 28-year-old didn't justify his outrageous price tag, and his time in Barcelona ended unceremoniously in 2023. PSG signed him that year, and his first season at Parc des Princes was not much different from his previous six in Spain. However, Luis Enrique showcased immense patience and faith, changing his position on the pitch — from a winger to a false nine — which has brought the best out of Dembele and also worked wonders on a collective level, with PSG sweeping all trophies on offer in the 2024-25 season. Now, the attacker is in pole position to be awarded this year's Ballon d'Or.

The in-form forward will look to carry his impressive PSG form onto the international stage, as France prepare for a crucial Nations League semi-final clash against Spain on Thursday evening. Following his national team duties, he will head to the United States with PSG for the inaugural edition of the revamped Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14.