Ousmane Dembele has rejected “several great European clubs” to stay at Barcelona, says agent

Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele will not be leaving the club this summer “despite interest from several great European clubs”, says his agent.

The 22-year-old is yet to truly shine at the Camp Nou since completing a £97m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

Dembele’s Barcelona future in question? Five things to know…

• Dembele was signed as a direct replacement for Neymar after the 2016/2017 season.
• He had assisted 12 Bundesliga goals in the campaign previous, the second-most that season.
• Dembele has impressed in spells at Barcelona, scoring five goals in his first six club games in 18/19.
• But he has already missed 40 games over two seasons through injury since joining, according to Transfermarkt.
• And multiple media reports have suggested the club have concerns over his attitude, fitness and personal life.

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Dembele’s maiden campaign was hampered by a serious hamstring injury, and he once again faces a spell on the sidelines after the problem reemerged in Barca’s La Liga curtain-raiser against Athletic Bilbao last week.

There are also strong rumours Neymar could return to Catalonia from PSG before the European market shuts next month. This would create even greater competition in an attack also able to call upon £120m summer signing Antoine Griezmann.

But Dembele’s representative, Moussa Sissoko, has been quick to distance his client from talk of an exit despite rising concerns.

“I wanted to clarify firmly and definitively the situation of Ousmane Dembele,” Sissoko told French outlet L’Equipe.

“He does not plan to leave Barcelona at the moment. This is the course of action fixed for several months now and no element is or will be likely to cause us to deviate.

“Ousmane feels perfectly well within the club and he remains determined to impose himself in the long term.”

Sissoko went on to add that there has been an interest expressed in the France international, but Dembele simply has no desire to leave Barca.

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He continued: “Despite interest from several great European clubs, Ousmane is convinced he wants to be at the heart of the largest of them and everything is there to make it flourish.

“Ousmane is aware of what he has to do on a daily basis to make his Barcelona adventure a complete success.

“Unfortunately, his injury temporarily stops him in his motivation to make a great and beautiful season, symbolized by its anticipated recovery of a week. But this has no impact on his thirst for success and he is confident to return as soon as possible.

“Developing at a club as prestigious and ambitious as Barcelona involves a competition that will advance any player.

“In any case, it is the point of view rooted in Ousmane’s mind. He is Barcelona and he will remain 1000 per cent with the firm desire to honour the colours of the club.”