Luis Enrique names Ousmane Dembélé as biggest game-changer in football
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has described Ousmane Dembélé as the biggest game-changer in world football.
The 26-year-old forward joined France’s perpetual champions in the summer for a reported £43.5m subsequently replacing Neymar who joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal.
It was the second time Dembélé followed in Neymar’s footsteps. He previously filled the void Brazil’s recorder scorer left at Barcelona when PSG made him the world’s most expensive footballer.
Dembélé’s time in Spain was marred by injury as he managed 40 goals across 150 outings. The former Borussia Dortmund man also chipped in with 43 assists winning three La Liga crowns in the process.
His start in the French capital has been low-key with him recently opening his account while creating five goals. Enrique, though, feels Dembélé offers more than scoring or creating.
Un vendredi au top ! On continue sur notre bonne dynamique. Maintenant, focus sur mardi tous ensemble !!! 🔴🔵 #icicestparis pic.twitter.com/Xlu8eQSUmw
— Ousmane Dembélé (@dembouz) November 24, 2023
“From the moment he arrived, people have been obsessed with whether he scores goals or not, but when he has the ball, that frees up one or two other players when we are attacking because of his ability to attack spaces. I have absolutely no doubt he is the biggest game-changer in world football,” he told reporters.
“I’ve known Dembélé since I was at Barcelona. I wanted to sign him when he was still at Rennes but he didn’t want to move to Barça because there was a lot of competition for places. I’ve known him for many years and, in my opinion, he’s a different type of player to anyone else.
“Now I know him personally too. He doesn’t care if he makes a mistake, he doesn’t care if he gets criticised. It’s a big opportunity being able to coach him. I think he’s a different player to the one that was at Barcelona because we want him to play both out wide and infield so he can create.”
