The agent of Ousmane Dembele has defended his client after Didier Deschamps revealed the Barcelona forward has a habit of joining up with the France squad late.
Dembele was left out of the Barcelona team that lost 4-3 to Real Betis at the Nou Camp on Sunday amid rumours that he had failed to turn up to training last Thursday.
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As a result, Deschamps was asked about the concerns over Dembele’s timekeeping and responded by revealing that the 21-year-old has been late for international duty in the past.
“I haven’t talked with the staff of Barcelona because I don’t interfere in the daily business of clubs,” Deschamps said at a press conference (via Standard Sport).
“It’s their responsibility and it’s up to them to manage their players, on and off the field.
“Ousmane has been with us for a while. That’s his usual trick to be late, but in his defence, I’m sure he’ll say: ‘I’m not the only one.’
“Whether at a big club like Barcelona, in the French national team or elsewhere, he has to pay attention to that. It’s part of the life and requirements of a professional footballer.
“He must improve to prevent it from becoming negative. These are situations that can be repeated. The sooner he understands that, the better for everyone.”
Sissoko refutes Deschamps claims
Dembele’s agent, Moussa Sissoko (not to be confused with the Tottenham midfielder), has refuted the claims about his client being repeatedly late for club and country.
“All these criticisms make me laugh,” Sissoko told RMC Sport (via Goal).
“It had already begun with a so-called delay at the meeting before the Champions League match against Inter. I am surprised that very serious newspapers can take back this information because Ousmane didn’t arrive late.
“His coach has confirmed that the fact that he wasn’t in the starting XI was not due to a delay.
“It is true that Ousmane was sick (before Betis).He had not slept all night, he was very tired.
“He missed the morning training and what the club has blamed us is that he did not warn a little before that a doctor can see his mismanagement at home. He did it a little late.
“But he was sick, the club confirmed he had a (gastrointestinal illness), he missed the training because of that. And I am surprised that we also make controversy when he is sick.”
Dembele has made 38 appearances for Barcelona since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017, scoring ten goals.
The former Rennes attacker has scored two goals in 20 matches for his country and was part of the 2018 World Cup-winning squad.
He looks set to play a part in the upcoming Les Bleus fixtures against Netherlands and Uruguay.
The post Dembele agent defends Barcelona player as Deschamps weighs in on lateness concerns appeared first on Squawka News.
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