Ousmane Dembélé, the Paris Saint-Germain standout, has seamlessly integrated into his inaugural season with the capital club. The 26-year-old departed from FC Barcelona last summer to return to his native France.
PSG invested €50.4 million to bring the former Barcelona player on board as one of Kylian Mbappé’s companions for the 2023-24 season. Dembélé recently sat down with Le Parisien and discussed his slow start.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner noted that the transfer from the Catalan side to Paris did have an impact on his performance.
“It was necessary to digest the transfer from Barcelona to PSG,” Dembélé told the French outlet (h/t Paris Fans). “At first, I searched a lot within myself, but I never doubted myself or my abilities. I knew I would come back very strong. Some players are exceptional from the moment they arrive, and others need time.
“At Dortmund, I exploded right away, and in Barcelona, it happened little by little. It’s a bit the same thing in Paris, with fewer injuries. Today, I feel like I’ve finally found myself. I am on the right track, but I want to give even more, to be even more decisive.”
With his 10 assists in all competitions, Dembélé has solidified his role as the playmaker on the team. PSG currently leads the Ligue 1 table, advances to the Coupe de France quarterfinals, and gears up for a Round of 16 clash against Real Sociedad in the UEFA Champions League.
This positions them for a potential treble this season, a prospect often seen as remarkable in what some consider a rebuilding phase for the team.
