Barcelona on Monday announced their forward Ousmane Dembele ruled out for three to four weeks in a new hamstring injury. The 20-year-old striker only returned at the start of this January after tearing his hamstring in last September.
Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund for a fee 105 million euros rising to 145 million euros last summer. He appeared from the bench for the second half of Copa del Rey against Celta Vigo on last Thursday night.
Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde told that Dembele’s injury is too sensitive for the first team. However, he urges all the fans to do support for the Frenchman a quick recovery.
“After a long period of training, the player cannot be played according to the usual rhythm. He suffered a significant incident at the start of the season in Getafe and now he has a small problem that has little to do with the previous one.” Valverde said.
“We won’t overdramatise this injury either. People start to talk about how some players have an issue and in the end people start believing it. I have no doubt that the player will overcome it.
“We will do all we can to make sure this ends up as an anecdote. He had been playing little bits of matches as he returned and the plan for him was to come back little by little. It’ll be the same when he returns from this one. We hope that he’s not missing for long.” Valverde added.
Ousmane Dembele injured his thigh last September. (Source:www.itv.com)
When asked about Real Madrid’s current situation Valverde believes they still have the hope of the La Liga title despite a big gap.
“I don’t know Real Madrid’d problem, I don’t want to guess, and now cannot say Real Madrid has no hope” Valverde said.
“Maybe Real Madrid can see other teams are closer on the table and they say that but I don’t think any team has already given up on La Liga.
“Atletico Madrid don’t, Valencia don’t and of course Real Madrid don’t think way despite the fact that the gap is really big and important. I wouldn’t give up and I think they haven’t give up yet.
Philippe Coutinho, meanwhile, he has played four games since signing for Barca. However, Valverde hopes the Brazilian could be played sooner at Camp Nou.
