Injury update: Ousmane Dembélé chooses to undergo recovery in Paris

With the pre-season training camp kicking off, Barcelona are yet to have all their players back at the Ciutat Esportiva as preparations for the new campaign ramp up.

A number of players are yet to return from holiday, having been involved in the summer’s international competitions with their respective nations, while there are a few who are recovering from injuries and have opted to do so away from the club’s training facilities.

According to a report from AS, Ousmane Dembele has become the latest such player to choose to continue his recovery process away from the Ciutat Esportiva, with the Frenchman opting to stay in Paris after his latest injury setback.

The 24-year-old, who has to battle a series of injury issues during his time at Camp Nou, suffered a hamstring injury while away with the France national team at the UEFA Euro 2020 last month. The former Borussia Dortmund forward had to undergo surgery on the ruptured hamstring, which he did on June 29th, with Finnish surgeon Lasse Lampainen overseeing the procedure.

Dembele is expected to be sidelined for at least four months, meaning if there are no setbacks, he should be able to return only in November. The forward, as a result, has decided to stay back in Paris for the initial part of his rehabilitation program under the watchful eye of Barcelona’s club physio Xavi Elaine, who has travelled to the French capital with the 24-year-old.

Dembele will largely be doing physiotherapy with cold and electrotherapy machines at his home and a medical centre in Paris for the first month of the recovery period. Should everything go according to plans, the Frenchman should be able to begin light field training in September, at which point he could return to the Ciutat Esportiva.

When he does, Dembele’s future with Barcelona is also likely to be discussed, given as he is in the final year of his contract with the club. For now, the attacker will continue to recuperate from his injury away from Catalonia, much like Philippe Coutinho and Ansu Fati, who opted to stay in Brazil and Madrid, respectively, for their recoveries.