PSG Sensation Thrives in Second Season Post-Barcelona, Expert Says | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé has kicked off the 2024-25 season in fantastic form, notching three goals and three assists in just four Ligue 1 matches. At 27, he’s clearly in his prime, and it looks like his game is reaching new heights in his second season in Paris after leaving FC Barcelona last year.

One expert even suggests that this surge in form couldn’t have come at a better time. Paris Saint-Germain’s forward lineup is pretty young, with Dembélé being one of the more experienced players—though he’s still not even 30.

If PSG were going to thrive without Kylian Mbappé, the former FC Barcelona star needed to really step up his game. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Johnson stated that Dembélé’s production in his second season is a welcome addition for manager Luis Enrique.

“As far as timing goes, it could not be more ideal for Luis Enrique as PSG prepare to open their latest Champions League quest at home to Girona on Wednesday and the Spanish tactician needs his team’s top talents to all be ready to deliver from the off in Europe given their tricky draw,” Johnson wrote in his column for CBS Sports.

“Dembélé took his time to get going in Paris’ run to last year’s semifinals which built towards his key role in knocking out former club Barca in the quarterfinals with goals across both legs. He will be expected to contribute with that sort of consistency throughout the whole of the new League Phase and early indications are that he is ready to do so.”

Dembélé’s performance so far this season has also put him on Manchester United’s radar. The Premier League side could be looking for a right-winger, but considering his production under Enrique, it’s unlikely the Frenchman will leave Paris.

Photo credit: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images