Ousmane Dembélé is in Year 1 with Paris Saint-Germain after joining the French club last summer from FC Barcelona. While some may view his departure from the Catalan side as a downgrade, he doesn’t view it that way.
In an interview with Le Parisien, the 26-year-old noted that he sees PSG on the same level as Barcelona since it’s noticeable for him on and off the pitch.
“Barcelona is a very big club, we know that,” Dembélé said (h/t Le10Sport). “But PSG is also a huge club, I see it on and off the pitch. When you go to town, you are immediately recognized…
“Honestly, apart from the weather, there is no big change for me (laughs). Same for the stadium: Camp Nou is huge and full of history. But at the Parc des Princes, the exceptional atmosphere, at each match, the public supports us.”
Furthermore, Dembélé noted that despite playing in Ligue 1, he had an adaptation period. The forward only had 29 appearances with Stade Rennais before he left France to play abroad.
“If it’s difficult to adapt? Obviously!” Dembélé added. “Even more for me, since, in reality, as a professional, I only played seven or eight months in France, at Stade Rennes, before going abroad for seven years.
“I don’t feel like a foreigner in my country, but football-wise, I’m a bit the least French of the French (laughs). We had to adapt, especially since Ligue 1 has changed enormously. The championship is much stronger than when I left it.”
The Parisians paid €50.4 million for the former Barcelona player to be one of Kylian Mbappé’s sidekicks this 2023-24 season. With his 10 assists in all competitions, Dembélé has solidified his role as the playmaker on the team.
PSG is currently at the top of the Ligue 1 table, in the Coupe de France quarterfinals, and preparing for a Round of 16 matchup against Real Sociedad in the UEFA Champions League. So, they’re positioned to win a treble this season, which many view as a rebuilding year.
