The Frenchman's Camp Nou future has often been questioned, but his fellow countryman has dismissed the rumours, rating him ahead of the PSG talisman
Former France star Robert Pires thinks Barcelona would be unwise to offload troublesome winger Ousmane Dembele in order to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
Dembele arrived last year as a replacement for Neymar, who joined PSG in a world-record €222m ($253m/£199m) deal back in 2017.
Injuries had a particularly damaging impact on Dembele's first season, while his time in Spain has also been plagued by suggestions of a poor attitude and bad timekeeping.
His latest misdemeanour reportedly came last week when the 21-year-old was said to have turned up late for training, yet Dembele has still impressed at times, scoring in each of his two most recent outings against Espanyol and Tottenham.
Neymar has been strongly linked in recent months with a return to Camp Nou, leading to speculation about Dembele's future, but Pires is convinced Barca are better off with his compatriot.
"I love him [Dembele] very much," he told Mundo Deportivo. "We always talk about [Lionel] Messi, but this guy is very good.
"He's young but what he does we all did as kids. What you must do is self-impose discipline in your life, but he is young and with his quality and talent, he can help Barca to win the Champions League and also the league, as we have seen against Tottenham and Espanyol with great goals.
"If I had to choose, I would not change Dembele for Neymar. Ousmane is 21, plays with the left and the right [foot] with a lot of quality with the ball. He has a lot of potential, more than what we've seen so far."
Adrien Rabiot is another PSG player to have been linked with Barca, and Pires thinks the France international would fit in well to Barca's midfield alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic.
"I do not know what will happen, but he has qualities for it [playing at Barca]," Pires added. "Barca has Busquets and Rabiot is like him because he plays simple and does not move much, but Rabiot can also play on the left while Rakitic plays on the right [of Busquets].
"He has very good technique, he is left-footed and he is competitive like the other two."
football19
234
I think Pires didnt mean What we are thinking. Neymar is surely is better than Dembele. But i think in some cases Dembele is ahead like - Dribbling, Using both foots, Crossing and Dembele is younger. Surely Neymar wasnt like this when he first came. He became Neymar by playing with Barca and great players. Dembele will get that chance. Dembele 21 is better than Neymar 21
Nesaiknruy_Legend
198
Dembele is a potential player but not all players can fulfil their potential. At one point Anderson was meant to be as good as iniesta. Neymar is already proven and honeslty I don't see Dembele ever reaching Neymars level, personally I think he's overhyped and seen academy players as good as him but I guess if others see differently that's up to them. I'd take Malcom over him honestly.....
Dwayne_XXX
134
Barça should keep Dembele,might be a little irresponsible but he redeems himself by working hard. He has done spectacular things on that field that Lionel Messi might not even be able to do,what happens when Messi retires who will take his spot Suarez will be captian but Dembele will be the star Barca's hope.With all that said they should not remove Neymar from PSG for their benefit I rather them remove him from PSG because they have no other choice. So my final say is Dembele you work hard and be responsible they don't know how you feel but don't listen to them your teammates like you and don't want you to leave so play how you play and do you.
bandage
134
Even Cavani will not agree with this
symphony10
115
The fact is: Messi=CR7> Neymar> Salah> Hazard> Mbappe> ...... I don't know if Dembele is even in top 20
palashguptanjr
111
i can smell neymar's hatred evrywhere.... neymar is pure class.... no one is near him.... apart from messi amd cr7
VAMOSREAL
92
Next joke please lol 😂