Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFor a long time, Ousmane Dembele was regarded as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the game, but one who was failing to consistently meet his undeniable potential.After impressive back-to-back seasons at Rennes and Borussia Dortmund, the Frenchman made a �135million move to Barcelona in 2017, a fee which made him the second-most expensive player ever at the time.Dembele was just 20 years old at the time, and with such a fee comes huge pressure, with a stop-start beginning to his Barca career causing many to question whether the Catalans had overpaid for the forward.Frank Leboeuf on how Dembele reached his potentialAfter struggling with injuries and failing to live up to his vast fee in Barcelona, Dembele joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for a more modest �43.5million fee, but again there would be something of a roadblock for him at the Parc des Princes.This time it would be the presence of Kylian Mbappe in the team, as Dembele would often have to play second fiddle to his countryman. You may like Former Liverpool man on the first time he caught a glimpse of Kylian Mbappe as a youngster 'Kylian Mbappe was something new for French football, and he's already an all-time great' Clairefontaine, pressure and pressing: ESPN journalist Julien Laurens on how France's captain reached the top From his first tournament, Kylian Mbappes talent was so clear. He had such a huge impact on the team that summer and was decisive in the final Olivier Giroud on Kylian Mbappes international emergence This is something that former France defender Frank Leboeuf believes, as he claims Mbappes 2024 exit has been key in the making of Dembele, alongside a greater focus on training and well-being.I used to have the feeling, whenever I saw Ousmane lining up to play alongside Kylian for PSG, that there was a slight inferiority complex, the former Chelsea man tells FourFourTwo.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Almost as if he played down his own ability in order to serve Kylian,Given how Dembeles career has blossomed over the past two seasons, Lebeouf may have a point.Dembele has netted 55 times and provided 27 assists since Mbappes exit, helping PSG to maintain their stranglehold on Ligue 1, while also winning back-to-back Champions League titles - the first in the clubs history.The 29-year-old has also won the games most prestigious individual honour when he claimed the Ballon dOr last year, with Lebouef adding that there is recent precedent in players stepping out of the shadow of an iconic star to excel.Thats nothing new in football, and we saw it with Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, he adds.When Cristiano Ronaldo left, only then did he become the star.TOPICSKylian MbappeOusmane DembeleFranceWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromEd McCambridgeStaff Writer
