Barcelona news: Spanish newspaper reveal the truth about Ousmane Dembele’s injury

Barcelona paid £96million to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund after losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in a £200m deal.

Dembele made just three appearances for Barca before suffering a thigh injury that looks likely to rule him out for four months.

Dembele, who could eventually have cost the Spanish giants £136m, has had surgery to fix the problem in Finland.

And Spanish newspaper Sport have today claimed to reveal ‘the whole truth about the recovery of Dembele.’

The 20-year-old was pictured in a wheelchair before flying to a hospital in Oslo, amid claims the injury could actually save Barca £9m.

That is because as part of his transfer Barca were due to pay the amount to Dembele if he had featured in 50 games for them this season, now highly unlikely.

Barcelona players wore t-shirts with the message ‘Courage Ousmane’ on before their 6-1 thrashing of Eibar last week, prompting the forward to suggest he will be back within two months.

But Sport have moved to clear up any uncertainties about the injury, insisting his recovery will take three-and-a-half months.

Dembele is now 10 days into his comeback and is said to be ‘lively’ despite being in the early stages of rehabilitation.

That is partly down to the presence of his parents and his brother in Barcelona.

Dembele and his family are staying in a suite at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos Hotel, very close to Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium.

The player is not allowed to move his leg for 15 days, meaning he will be needing assistance to get around.

Dembele has not yet appeared at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barca’s training ground, but is expected to do so next Friday.

There he will meet up with his team-mates who offered him such a public show of support following his injury.

Dembele is visited daily by club doctors who are supervising his recovery, noting the player is optimistic about returning.

And close friend Samuel Umtiti, Gerard Pique’s central defensive partner this season, has been keeping him company at the hotel.