Ousmane Dembélé, the 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, could be sidelined for up to three weeks, according to Le Parisien. Having sustained an injury to his left hamstring during the Champions League league-phase match against FC Barcelona (4-2) at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, the Frenchman’s participation in the upcoming November international break remains uncertain.
An absence likely not to exceed three weeks
“While medical examinations have ruled out a more serious injury, Dembélé will be forced to rest—a period expected to last no longer than three weeks, according to our information. This timeframe casts doubt on whether he will be available for the next gathering of Les Bleus.
Zinedine Zidane is set to announce his squad in just over two weeks for the Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey, scheduled for November 12 and 15. A return following the international break, therefore, cannot be ruled out.”
An estimate, not yet a confirmed return date
The first encouraging sign concerns the severity of the injury, with medical tests ruling out any major damage, according to the newspaper. However, this should be viewed with caution: the three-week figure is an estimate reported by Le Parisien. For its part, PSG has simply announced that he will be unavailable for several weeks, without specifying a return date.
Dembélé began to feel discomfort around the 19th minute against Barcelona and promptly requested to be substituted; he was replaced by Ferran Torres. This setback interrupts what had been a strong run of form following the recent international break—the Frenchman had scored against both Manchester City and Strasbourg.
An absence that compounds the losses of Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos
For Luis Enrique, the challenge is further complicated by the fact that several players are now sidelined simultaneously. Kvaratskhelia is reported to be sidelined for many months, while Marquinhos is suffering from an injury to his right thigh that is also expected to keep him out for several weeks. Paris must therefore reorganize its attack while making adjustments to its defense.
In this context, a relatively short absence for Dembélé would be welcome news. However, it is not yet possible to pinpoint a specific match for his return, nor can his participation in the upcoming French national team camp be taken for granted. The possibility of a return following the international break remains open.
