Ousmane Dembele's redemption: From Barcelona outcast to PSG’s crown jewel

One of Lionel Messi's most noteworthy attributes is his ability to stay level-headed in tough times. However, even Messi’s "cool as a cucumber" mentality failed him after Ousmane Dembele missed one of the easiest chances in the first leg of Barcelona’s 2018/19 Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. Dembele struck the ball straight at Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, prompting Messi to drop to his knees in visible agony.A goal at that point would have given Barcelona a 4-0 advantage, offering a decisive psychological edge over the 3-0 lead they eventually took into the second leg. Liverpool, however, pulled off a stunning 4-0 win at Anfield, eliminating the Spanish giants from the tournament.Dembele's miss was emblematic of his struggles at Barcelona, where he failed to deliver after a €105 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund. Signed hastily as a replacement for Neymar, the Frenchman scored just 40 goals in 186 appearances. His time at the club was riddled with inconsistency, injuries, and criticism. He spent 784 days sidelined due to 14 muscle injuries, severely limiting his impact and turning him into a figure of ridicule among fans.In 2021, Barcelona president Joan Laporta made headlines by claiming Dembele was "better than Kylian Mbappe," but the forward did little to justify the faith. Former manager Xavi once described Dembele as a player with the potential to be the best in the world, but his patience waned as off-field issues mounted. The club even hired private chefs and tried to control his late-night gaming habits, but those efforts failed. Dembele eventually developed a reputation as a disruptive figure, racking up the highest fines in the squad.Philippe Coutinho, another expensive signing brought in to fill Neymar’s void, also failed. Pundits lumped Dembele into the same category—another talented player undone by wealth and poor discipline. Reports later emerged that Barcelona had considered terminating his contract as he grew increasingly unsettled.However, Dembele found an unlikely lifeline when Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) offered him a fresh start. The French winger cited a lack of support and mentorship at Barcelona—something he found under PSG manager Luis Enrique."Since the very beginning when I met Luis, I knew he trusted me and had faith in me as a number nine," Dembele told OneFootball."I’ve got a lot of freedom to move to the right or left flank when needed. It’s a position I enjoy. It’s about creating uncertainty for the opponent."That uncertainty began affecting opposing defenses, as Dembele rediscovered his form and confidence. The departure of Kylian Mbappe gave him space to shine as a dependable goal scorer. His finishing improved dramatically, and with it, his reputation.Still, the journey wasn’t without bumps. Dembele clashed with Enrique on the training ground and was dropped for a Champions League 2024/25 match against Arsenal. PSG lost that game, but Enrique stood by his decision, calling it the right one. Dembele accepted the call maturely and emerged more focused, resisting the urge to seek a transfer and instead committing to improving.He finished the season as PSG’s top scorer in the Champions League with 8 goals, including the match-winner in the first leg of the semi-final against Arsenal—a goal that proved decisive. Over the course of the campaign, he scored 33 goals in 45 matches.Enrique backed Dembele for the Ballon d'Or after PSG’s historic Champions League triumph."If we think about how he defended in the final, he showed what he’s made of. He was a leader, he was humble, and he tracked back," the manager said.But perhaps the most telling praise came from former Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez: “We weren’t patient with Dembele. I was told he wasn’t very professional, which wasn’t true. All the false accusations hurt him,” he told Goal.com.“He has given Barcelona a slap in the face.”With PSG having clinched a historic treble, the club looks poised to dominate world football in the years ahead—with Dembele potentially leading the charge.