Ousmane Dembele has been public enemy number one at FC Barcelona for some time, yet the French international managed to win supporters back onto his side this weekend.
The winger was a 67th-minute substitute for the Catalan side as they led 1-0 at home against high-flying Athletic Bilbao, and within six minutes, Dembele was on the scoresheet with a stunning goal from a ludicrous angle.
The rumoured Newcastle and Tottenham star was not done there, though, as Dembele wrapped up a 4-0 win for Barcelona by assisting Memphis Depay in stoppage time to complete another massive win for Xavi Hernandez’s side.
Boos turned to cheers for Dembele at full-time as the attacker basked in the Nou Camp applause after his best performance of the season, and for Newcastle and Tottenham, this could be a problem ahead of the summer.
Dembele redemption at Barcelona is trouble for Newcastle & Tottenham
Dembele’s contract is due to expire this summer following his reported £136m move to Barcelona in 2017, with clubs like Newcastle and Tottenham as well as other Premier League rivals keeping tabs on the 24-year-old attacker.
Indeed, as things stand, the forward is still set to leave Catalonia after a nightmare five years with the club. However, Dembele’s heroic performance for Barcelona on the weekend could set in motion a butterfly effect that could cause trouble for Newcastle and Tottenham.
With Barcelona supporters turning their boos to applause for Dembele, a run of form could see the winger sign a new contract at the club, with Xavi seemingly eager to get the best out of the former Borussia Dortmund star this season.
The performance against Bilbao could be a turning point for Dembele’s Barcelona career, and for Newcastle and Tottenham, the pair could now be set to miss out on the French international if his form continues to improve.
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