When Paris Saint-Germain drew FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, it meant that Ousmane Dembélé would be playing against his former club and returning to the Spanish city.
Dembélé recently spoke with UEFA.com and shared some thoughts ahead of the first leg on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. The Frenchman noted that he’s excited to play against his former team and return to Barcelona, where he likely won’t be receiving a warm welcome.
“Yes! It’s wonderful to play in Barcelona and Spain again,” Dembélé said. “I think it will be a great football match.”
Furthermore, he reflected on the seven years at Barcelona, noting that he learned a lot during his time with the Catalan side.
“I would say that I learned a lot, on and off the field, thanks to my coaches, but also to the great friends I made there,” Dembélé added. “I don’t know everyone, but I know a lot of people. I learned a lot there.”
Recently, Diario AS reported details regarding what manager Xavi Hernandez felt as the transfer transpired, leading to Dembélé eventually joining the Parisians and returning to France.
According to the outlet, the summer transfer was a move that the Blaugrana coach saw as a betrayal by a player he had steadfastly supported. It will be interesting to see how Dembélé reacts when he sees Xavi and vice versa.
