OUSMANE DEMBELE HAS defended his decision to go on strike in a bid to force through a mega-money move from Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona.
France star Dembele completed a €105 million switch to Barca after refusing to train during his final days with the Bundesliga club.
The 20-year-old’s actions drew widespread criticism but, back in Ernesto Valverde’s first-team plans and attempting to salvage an injury-plagued debut season at Camp Nou, Dembele asked critics to put themselves in his shoes.
“What else should I have done? If Barcelona cancelled their interest for the second time that would have been impossible for me,” he told Onze Mondial, referencing Barcelona’s initial interest during his breakthrough campaign at Rennes.
“I’d like to know how the people who criticise me would have behaved if they had been in my position.
“I had the impression that I would miss the fulfilment of my dream, which is why I behaved like that. That’s what I stand for.”
Dembele made his seventh La Liga appearance on Thursday when he came off the bench for the last 15 minutes of Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Las Palmas.
Much of his first season in Spain has been troubled by a hamstring injury, which saw him miss almost the entire calendar until Christmas. Thereafter, he suffered a further muscular injury that prevented him playing for a month, and it is from that problem that he is currently being eased back into regular action.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Sure Huggins prob has a few quid in Wiiliams anyway
@Brian Les: Are they even real people?
Great final, and delighted that Williams won. Nice guy as well, and hard to believe that it’s 15 years since he won his last final beating our Ken.
@Aging Lothario: Ken Barlow?
Great game. Williams showed some bottle in that last frame having missed a pink for the match in the previous frame. Delighted for him, likeable guy also.
Delighted for him. Great champion.
Fair play Mark Williams! Absolutely chuffed. Inspirational ! Brilliant final.
Hope he goes to on to win it! Looking good at the moment
He arrived with a towel on to the press conference too as promised haha
Delighted for him!
More entertaining than most MNF as sky called it