Ousmane Dembele, a reported transfer target for Liverpool and Chelsea [Metro], only missed Barcelona training recently because of illness.
His agent Moussa Sissoko (who isn’t the Tottenham midfielder) stated that Barcelona had been informed of Dembele’s issue and that a mountain has been made of a molehill.
There were reports that Dembele’s no-show had angered the club and could lead to manager Ernesto Valverde offloading the prodigy in January.
“It is true that Ousmane was sick [before the Real Betis game],” the representative said. “He had not slept all night, he was very tired.
“He missed the morning training and what the club has blamed us for is that he did not warn a little before that a doctor can see his mismanagement at home. He did it a little late. But he was sick, the club confirmed he had a [gastrointestinal illness], he missed the training because of that. And I am surprised that we also make controversy when he is sick.”
Sissoko also went on to suggest his 21-year-old client is happy at Barca and that a transfer is not likely in the near future, which probably ends rumours of a potential Liverpool switch, sadly.
“There is no doubt about his future, at all, Ousmane continues to work, he is in a big club and [Ernesto] Valverde loves him, and he is also in the national team and Deschamps continues to trust him,” Sissoko told RMC Sport, translated by the original Metro report.
We’d actually be surprised if Liverpool bought anyone this January. The squad is already full of talented players who are not featuring very often – and we’ve the likes of Rhian Brewster and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to enter the fray and challenge for minutes once they return from injury.
The former is a youngster, but someone promised genuine opportunities, while Ox will offer dynamism and drive to our midfield – something which has occasionally been lacking this term.
