Starting the season quite confidently and regaining Ernesto Valverde's trust, Ousmane Dembele is gradually reducing his role in the team.
"Mundo Deportivo" states that E. Valverde is not satisfied with the 21-year-old player's discipline. It is precisely for this reason that the Frenchman did not even rise from the bench in the match against "Inter" despite predictions that he would replace the injured Lionel Messi.
According to various sources, O. Dembele arrived late for the match on Wednesday by 25 minutes, which did not sit well with the team's coach. While all teams strictly adhere to rules about tardiness, the Frenchman has been known to be late multiple times, even last season.
It should be noted that back in September, Gerard Pique was invited to speak with the club's leaders about similar issues.
Nevertheless, this is not the main reason for O. Dembele's decreased playing time. In the weekend match against "Sevilla," the Frenchman made a first-half appearance when L. Messi suffered a hand injury.
With his actions on the field, the Frenchman has not only disappointed E. Valverde but also the team's fans. Playing selfishly on the wings, he would carelessly lose possession of the ball multiple times in the center of the field.
Neither E. Valverde nor the club are satisfied with O. Dembele's professionalism, leading to discussions about his future. If the situation does not improve, it is likely that the management will start considering options in the January transfer window.
It is believed that O. Dembele will not be trusted in the upcoming "El Clasico" match. Malcom, who has had minimal playing time this season, now has better chances of getting minutes against "Real" Madrid than the Frenchman.
O. Dembele has played in 11 matches this season and scored five goals.
