Paris : In a significant transfer window deal, French winger Ousmane Dembele is on the brink of returning to his homeland after reaching a 5-year contract agreement with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The talented player looks set to bid farewell to Barcelona and embark on a fresh start in the French capital in the upcoming weeks.
According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, verbal talks between Dembele and PSG have culminated in a contract running through 2028. The move comes after a six-season stint in Spain for Dembele, during which he didn’t quite reach the anticipated heights of his potential. However, a return to his home country might be the catalyst needed to revitalise his career and unlock his true capabilities.
The 26-year-old forward’s transfer to PSG gained urgency as his Barcelona contract included a 50 million euro release clause, which would have escalated to 100 million euros on August 1, leaving the Parisians with little time to secure his services. Despite injuries and health setbacks dampening his progress, Dembele remains a supremely gifted player known for his speed, directness, and versatility with both feet, making him a valuable asset for PSG as they strive to rebuild their squad following the departures of Lionel Messi and the imminent sale of Kylian Mbappe.
Dembele is expected to reunite with Neymar, the player he was once deemed to replace when he arrived in Barcelona as a 20-year-old in 2017 amid the infamous Neymar transfer saga. The duo aims to spearhead PSG’s charge towards Champions League glory, particularly with Neymar reuniting with former coach Luis Enrique, with whom he enjoyed immense success during his time at Barcelona. Dembele’s return to France comes as a World Cup winner, and he last graced Ligue 1 with Rennes during the 2015-16 season, showcasing his talent with 12 goals in a breakout campaign.
As Dembele prepares to join PSG, the club has already bolstered its attack with the acquisitions of two other La Liga talents, Marcos Asensio and Lee Kang-In. The move also comes after Dembele reportedly turned down an opportunity to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, choosing to remain in Europe with the ambition to enhance his abilities and reach his full potential in France.
Despite their domestic dominance, PSG remains determined to claim the elusive Champions League title, with manager Luis Enrique reportedly demanding more reinforcements to bolster their ranks. The Spanish tactician has already secured the signatures of Lee, Asensio, and Lucas Hernandez but is reportedly seeking to acquire a striker after losing out in a bidding war for Rasmus Hojlund, who joined Manchester United.
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