Valverde coy on whether Dembele will start for Barcelona against Espanyol

Ernesto Valverde has refused to confirm whether new signing Ousmane Dembele will start for Barcelona against Espanyol on Saturday at Camp Nou.

The France international’s debut is eagerly anticipated, yet we will have to wait and see if he will get the nod, or whether he will have to settle for a place on the bench instead.

“I’m not going to say if I know whether Dembélé will start or not. I don’t know the Espanyol team,” said Valverde

“It has been good for Dembélé to be here for these last few days.

“Little by little he’s relaxing and is more involved. I think he’s ready, but he looks better every day to me.”

Source | Sport

The arrival of Dembele was arguably the highlight of Barcelona’s chaotic transfer window and it’s understandable we want to see him in action as soon as possible.

Having skipped training to force through a move to Barca, he was also left out of the recent France squad, but has been training with his new club over the international break.

Is he fit or ready enough to start? Hopefully he is, but it looks as though we are going to have to wait until tomorrow to find out.