Improve your attitude, Rivaldo tells Dembele
barcelona — Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele needs to improve his attitude and focus on being more professional even if he does want to leave the La Liga leaders, the club’s former championship winning player Rivaldo has said.
Dembele, who joined Barcelona in August 2017 for $119.45 million, suffered injury problems in his first year and this season has been criticised for his behaviour, including turning up late to training and events.
Media reports have linked the 21-year-old with a move away from the Nou Camp during next month’s transfer window.
Brazilian Rivaldo, who played for Barca for five years from 1997 and is regarded as one of the most skilful attackers of his generation, said there was no doubting the Frenchman’s talents.
Dembele has only scored 12 goals for Barca but several of those have been important strikes in the league, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League.
“Ousmane Dembele’s situation at Barcelona is upsetting because he’s already shown that he can play very well, score goals and be an important member of the team,” Rivaldo, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, told Betfair.
“He just needs to focus on being a little more professional and to stop being late for training sessions. This is not the correct mentality for someone potentially trying to leave Barcelona. It’s always strange to hear that someone might want to leave a big club in this way.”