Ousmane Dembele will face FC Barcelona once again when Paris Saint-Germain meet the Catalan giants in the third round of the UEFA Champions League.
The French attacker spent six seasons at Barça after the club paid Borussia Dortmund €105 million plus add-ons to sign him following the departure of Neymar in 2017.
It was an expensive transfer that took time to pay off, with the team going through a difficult period during much of his spell.
The flashes of quality he had shown initially began to produce the expected results under Xavi Hernandez. Despite the coach’s appreciation for him, PSG’s interest proved decisive, and he eventually left Barça thanks to his €50 million release clause.
Dembele’s departure from the Camp Nou was far from straightforward, with tensions rising during his final months at the club.
But, according to SPORT, the French forward has retained positive feelings towards the team that helped establish him among football’s elite.
Gavi, Pedri and De Jong remain close to his heart
Despite experiencing a wide range of highs and lows in Barcelona, Dembele looks back on his time at the club with affection. He was happy living in the city and developed strong relationships within the dressing room.
He considers Gavi a brother and remains in regular contact with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. Although naturally reserved, Dembele was well liked by his team-mates and left a lasting impression on those around him.
On the pitch, however, sentiment will take a back seat. Dembele has already shown in previous meetings with Barcelona that his professionalism comes first, and he is fully aligned with Luis Enrique Martinez at PSG.
Barcelona still holds a special place in his heart
Dembele will approach the meeting with Barcelona with admiration and respect for his former club, even as he looks to help PSG secure another important result.
During his time at the Camp Nou, he managed to turn the jeers of supporters into applause through his performances.
Barcelona fans will undoubtedly scrutinise him closely when he steps onto the field against their team, but the Frenchman has not forgotten the club where he spent six formative seasons.
His departure may have been turbulent, but Barcelona remains a place he remembers fondly and a club that will always hold a special place in his heart.
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