Ousmane Dembele showed ‘bad style’ and ‘didn’t even collect his boots’ when he left Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona, claims an ex-teammate.
Dembele spent only a season with Dortmund before joining Barcelona in a deal rising to €145m last summer, but the winger refused to train until the Germans gave the green light to his transfer.
“You just don’t walk out on a club like that,” veteran goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller told ESPN.
“It caused incredible turmoil that couldn’t be calmed by anyone. This is a team sport — football is not tennis.
“He didn't even collect his boots. That's ridiculous. Before this, I could not imagine something like this existed.
“It was here that he turned himself into a player Barcelona wanted to buy — but rather than being thankful, he decides to leave the club by staying at home, going on strike, abandoning his teammates. That's just bad style — no manners.
“[I can understand] when being courted by a big club. It’s OK. But if you make that decision [to leave], there are other options.
“You try to find a solution which works for all sides.”
