Paris Saint-Germain forward ousmane Dembele has opened up about the challenges he faced during his six years at Barcelona, acknowledging a challenging period marked by recurring injuries but ultimately expressing contentment with his time at the club.
Dembele,who joined PSG this summer,made 185 competitive appearances for Barcelona despite frequently being sidelined. He admitted injuries significantly hindered his progress, stating, “I wasn’t lucky for three or four years as of injuries. When I was able to play, I had to adapt, and when I couldn’t, I had to stay strong, but I was doing what I love, and I was at my dream club, Barcelona. It wasn’t easy, but after three or four years, things got much better.”
The France international explained that his injury struggles prompted a shift in his approach to training and self-care. “Because I arrived at Barcelona with only a year and a half as a professional, I didn’t go to the gym much, but instead went straight to the pitch with a lot of energy and some talent too,” he said. “After one injury, two, three, four, you realize that you have to take care of your body, and that football at the highest level requires more than just talent.”
Despite the difficulties, Dembele harbors no regrets about his time with the Catalan giants. He emphasized the personal growth he experienced, saying, “I am happy with everything that happened in Barcelona, because it is the place where I matured as a person, both on and off the field. I also made many friends there and still keep in touch with them. Therefore, it was an exceptional period for me, and above all, it was a time of learning.”
DembeleS reflections come as PSG prepares for a Champions League clash against Barcelona in early October, a fixture complicated by a recent injury the player sustained while on international duty with Ukraine.
