Ousmane Dembélé was yesterday substitute at the kickoff of the meeting Barcelona - Inter Milan while he was tipped to hold. According to the Catalan press, this would be a punishment of Ernesto Valverde for the player who showed up 25 minutes late at the pre-match rally.
The story between Ousmane Dembélé and FC Barcelona is very complicated. Following the injury of Messi last Saturday against Sevilla, we expected to see the world champion holder for the reception of Inter Milan but it was finally Rafinha who was preferred. Worse, the French did not come back at all, spending the 90 minutes sitting comfortably on the bench.
Logically interviewed in a post-game press conference on this choice, Ernesto Valverde said: "I have no message to pass to anyone. Do not always try to interpret my choices. Dembélé is a team player like any other, I have nothing else to add. He must be ready to play, and continue to work every day in training. "
During the farewell ceremony of Andrés Iniesta, Gérard Piqué had pointed out the recurring delays of Ousmane Dembélé, he even said in the group WhatsApp players:
"We have to communicate schedules. It's a good thing because Dembélé is always late. »Pic.twitter.com/ASzPXsq0J0
Today, the Catalan press revealed that Ousmane Dembélé would have come to the rendezvous before the match with 25 minutes late, which would have more than annoyed his coach. And that is what would explain the presence of Ousmane on the bench throughout the match. Not long ago, Pique had already reproached Dembélé for his recurring delays. The presence of Dembélé on the bench yesterday appears clearly as a penalty against the player.