The summer saga with Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele had a happy ending. After several months of negotiations, fights in the media and alleged blackmail, the Frenchman decided to extend his contract with the Catalan club and stay at the Camp Nou.He has been on it for the sixth season, but only in the last few months has Dembele demonstrated why Barcelona paid him 125 million euros to Dortmund. He finished last season as the best assistant, even though he fought for a starting place in the team only after Xavi’s arrival – played only 21 games in the championship – and he continued with good performances at the beginning of the new season, so for the first time after more than a year he returned to the French national team. Dembele attributes the greatest credit for his football revival – but also for the fact that he stayed at the club at all – to the talented Catalan expert.”Confidence is very important, and Xavi passed it on to me. After everything he said, I had to stay,” said Dembele in an interview with RMC Sport.##NAJAVA_MECA_6660093##The quick-footed Frenchman does not deny that his lifestyle upon arrival in Catalonia was not befitting a professional athlete.”My lifestyle during the first years at Barcelona? It was the same as any young player, but I managed to get out of that situation. From 2017 to 2022, I wasted a lot of time. I lost five years of my life… Several times I injured my back. The coaches insisted that the injuries would come back again if I didn’t work harder. With Koeman I started to improve and with Xavi I went one step further. We continue to work, I feel good in Barcelona, I have the trust of the whole team, the club and I’m happy. Now we all talk about football and everything is better.”Dembélé: “I have lost a lot of time in my life. From 2017 to 2021… I lost five years of my life.” pic.twitter.com/R68bYrG79t— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) September 21, 2022 As far as plans for this season are concerned, Dembele has set his goals high.”Personally, my ambition is to win the Champions League with Barcelona. It’s been seven years since the club last won it and I would like to bring it back. For the club to win trophies, La Liga, the Champions League, that’s the most important…”
