A fresh insight into the likelihood of Ousmane Dembele being afforded game-time during Barcelona’s upcoming showdown with Atletico Madrid has been provided on Friday evening.
Wide-man Dembele has of course seen his name take its place front and centre in the headlines once more over the course of the last couple of weeks.
This comes on the back of a heated public back-and-forth between club and player, which was expected to see the French international ultimately moved on in the lead-up to the winter transfer deadline.
In the end, however, ahead of the expiration of his contract at the Camp Nou this summer, Barcelona were unable to find a buyer for Dembele.
Questions, in turn, have quickly circulated surrounding whether or not Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez will be open to making use of Dembele’s talents over the 2nd half of the campaign, or simply banishing the headline-grabbing attacker to the stands.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – October 6: Ousmane Dembele after scoring his side’s third goal during Barcelona vs Sevilla, La Liga regular season match at Estadio Camp Nou on October 6th 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
And, as alluded to above, on Friday, an insight into precisely that has been forthcoming online.
As per an in-depth report on the part of Samuel Marsden of ESPN, Xavi is ‘leaning towards’ utilising Dembele out wide over the weeks and months ahead.
Though those in a position of power at the Camp Nou have made clear that they would rather the contract rebel be excluded from matchday activities, Xavi is viewed as ‘not as tough’ on the matter.
It is therefore not out of the question that the former Borussia Dortmund man could not only feature, but be included from the off on Sunday afternoon, when Barca play host to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
Laporta’s made it clear Dembele should face consequences for not renewing, but the player is ready to play, his friend Auba has joined & Xavi’s leaning towards using him. The small matter of Atletico on Sunday. On OD7, with @moillorens & @LaurensJulien https://t.co/qxv3VtSigp
— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) February 4, 2022
Auba to the bench?
Such claims would certainly appear to line up with further reports surrounding the front-3 likely to be fielded by Xavi versus Atleti.
As per Javi Miguel of Diario AS, as things stand, Barcelona’s attack on Sunday looks set to consist of Ferran Torres up top, flanked on either side by Dembele and January addition Adama Traore.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in turn, is expected to be introduced from the bench during the 2nd-half.
Adama Ferran Dembele. El tridente ante el Atletico. Aubameyang saldra segunda parte. Lleva un mes y medio sin jugar. Cero riesgos
— Javi Miguel Club (@fansjavimiguel) February 4, 2022
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