Xavi issues his verdict on Dembele's Ballon d'Or

Coach Xavi Hernandez expressed his personal views about the 2025 Ballon d'Or, awarded to Ousmane Dembele.

In a recent interview with Foot Mercato, Coach Xavi Hernandez discussed the 2025 Ballon d'Or event, where the ultimate prize went to Ousmane Dembele.

According to him, Xavi praised Dembele’s performance during the 2024/25 season at PSG and confirmed that the forward fully deserved the Ballon d'Or title.

Specifically, Xavi stated: "Ousmane is a unique player; we recognized that from the moment he arrived at Barcelona. We clearly saw his immense potential and did everything possible to make him feel comfortable and happy in the new environment. He possesses exceptional development ability, constantly working hard to learn and improve throughout his time with the club.

When he received the offer from PSG, Ousmane chose to move to France and truly exploded there. Now, he is happy, becoming a star of the team and the centerpiece of the club’s project. Furthermore, PSG won the Champions League, where Ousmane shone brightly with numerous goals and assists. He genuinely made a difference. A player of such caliber is completely deserving of the Ballon d'Or."

Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona in the summer of 2017 from Borussia Dortmund for a transfer fee of 105 million Euros, becoming one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history.

Over six seasons with the Catalan club, he appeared in 185 matches across all competitions, scoring 40 goals and providing over 40 assists. The forward, born in 1997, won a total of 8 trophies with Barcelona, including 3 Copa del Rey titles, 2 La Liga championships, 2 Spanish Super Cups, and 1 UEFA Super Cup.

Under coach Xavi Hernandez, he achieved his most consistent form since arriving at Camp Nou, becoming a key attacking threat on the right flank with his speed, dribbling, and creativity. Xavi was instrumental in helping Dembele regain confidence and peak performance before he left the club in 2023 to join PSG.

At PSG, Dembele spent a year adapting to the competitive environment in his home country before showcasing outstanding form in the 2024/25 season.

Dembele played 53 matches, scored 37 goals, and provided 16 assists, playing a crucial role in helping the "French giants" achieve a historic treble. Most notably, he secured his first-ever Champions League title, marking a major milestone at club level.

These impressive achievements enabled Dembele to surpass many other stars like Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah to lift the Ballon d'Or for the first time last September, entering the hall of fame of football legends.

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