A player with Paris Saint-Germain from 2001 to 2003, Ronaldinho left a lasting impression on most Parisian fans of that era. Always attentive to his former club’s development, he spoke to L’Equipe about the performances of 27-year-old striker Ousmane Dembélé, and the project put in place by Paris coach Luis Enrique.
Ronaldinho “He’s baffling, he invents, he provokes.”
“He’s got a bit of a Brazilian style! He’s confusing, inventive and provocative. He’s often unreadable and, what’s more, he scores a lot of goals,” says the 2002 world champion. He’s in the process of revealing himself, of bursting into a different role to the one he played at PSG last year or Barcelona before that.”
Ronaldinho “PSG are a team with great potential, in the making.”
“He’s going to succeed in what he’s building in Paris. He’s putting together a good, attractive game plan. PSG is a team with great potential, in the making.”
Dembélé’s meteoric rise is due in no small part to Luis Enrique’s management. We all remember that last year there was a serious clash between the two men. Decisions were taken and, after a period on the sidelines, Dembélé was reintegrated into the squad. Since then, everything has gone smoothly between coach and player.
It also goes to show that if you want to make real progress, you have to go through more difficult times. Today, PSG is the most in-form team in Europe. And given his performances in Europe, there’s no doubt that Ousmane Dembélé could become a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.
