Ousmane Dembele a ‘better player than Neymar,’ says Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu ahead of Manchester United match

Ousmane Dembele a ‘better player than Neymar,’ says Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu ahead of Manchester United match
Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele is now a better player than Neymar, according to the man who signed him, Josep Bartomeu.The Barca president oversaw Neymar’s 198m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, with Dembele arriving from Borussia Dortmund shortly afterwards for 135m and Philippe Coutinho joining the club from Liverpool in January 2018 for 142m.4

Bartomeu signed Dembele for 135m in August 2017 shortly after selling Neymar to PSG

Both players are adequate replacements, says Bartomeu.“I explained that we have a project with Dembele and Coutinho with Neymar’s money,’ he told Spanish television channel TVE.“Dembele’s level is better now than Neymar’s, he’s a much better player than Neymar and he’s already adapted.” The Camp Nou supremo was also full of praise for former Liverpool star Coutinho, who has been linked with a move away from Barcelona recently.However, it appears the 26-year-old Brazil international is going nowhere.“Coutinho is a great player, excellent, he’s getting better and better,” he added.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...

• Barcelona vs Manchester United (Tuesday, 8pm) – talkSPORT
• Juventus vs Ajax (Tuesday, 8pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Porto vs Liverpool (Wednesday, 8pm) – talkSPORT
• Napoli vs Arsenal (Thursday, 8pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest (Friday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Leeds vs Wigan (Friday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Sunderland vs Doncaster (Friday, 5:15pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Norwich vs Sheffield Wednesday (Friday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Newcastle vs Southampton (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
• Accrington Stanley vs Luton (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
• Everton vs Manchester United (Sunday, 1:30pm) – talkSPORT
• Cardiff vs Liverpool (Sunday, 4pm) – talkSPORT

“It’s not easy to play at Barca – he was here six months last season and he’s complete now. He has the confidence of [Ernesto Valverde] the coach. He’s a global player and we expect a lot. from him.“He will continue at Barca. He’s different and Barca needs different players.”Getty4

Neymar cost PSG 198m in 2017, but Bartomeu believes Dembele, who replaced him in Spain, is now a much better player

4

Philippine Coutinho ‘will continue at Barca’ says club president Josep Bartomeu

On Tuesday night, live on talkSPORT at 8pm, LaLiga’s leaders host Manchester United in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.Lionel Messi is fit to play, having suffered a facial injury in the first leg in a clash with Chris Smalling. The forward was rested for Saturday’s goalless draw at bottom club, Huesca.Barca lead 1-0 from the first leg and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will use United’s dramatic turnaround in the previous round against PSG as inspiration.4

Barcelona players train ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Man United

“It will have helped us as a team,” the Norwegian said. “We know we can turn things around.“Barca here at the Nou Camp is a difficult prospect but that night will live with the players. It was not that long ago and we are one goal better off [than we were then].”Solskjaer confirmed forward Alexis Sanchez and midfielder Nemanja Matic are both available for the tie after recovering from injuries.Sanchez, who played 141 times for Barca in a three-year spell, has been out for six weeks with a knee injury while Matic has missed the past three games.

---

Manchester United news: Wayne Rooney wants club to 'go all

---

Maurzio Sarri admitted Chelsea were in a bit of trouble after losing to Everton. Goals from Richarlison and Glyfi Sigurdsson condemned the Blues to a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park to seriously dent their Champions League hopes.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri admits Blues are 'in a bit of

---

Tottenham vs Leicester City LIVEPremier League Tottenham vs Leicester City line-ups and team news. and beat Leicester 6-1 away in 2017 as Harry Kane bagged four goals en route to a Golden
Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City: Team news, kick-off time

---

no chil The England full-back has been subject to interest from Manchester City in recent months after putting some impressive performances on the left-flank for the Foxes Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has admitted Ben Chilwell was his top target at Liverpool and is determined to keep the full-back at the King Power stadium.
Brendan Rodgers admits Ben Chilwell was his top target at

---

Tottenham Hotspur must overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their semi-final tie against Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena if they are to remain on course for Champions League glory.. The only
Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur - MSN

---

Marcus Rashford is in line to land a staggering £78million contract at Manchester United after holding advanced talks with the club over a new five-year deal.
Marcus Rashford | Premier Skills English

---

Summer Transfer Window Transfer news recap: Zidane hands Man United transfer boost, Arsenal striker heads for exit All the latest gossip and transfer news from the Premier League and beyond Premier League The alternative Premier League table which has Man United top, West Ham 3rd and Chelsea 8th It wasn't all bad news for Man United in the 2018
Football Transfer News & Latest Rumours - Mirror Online

---

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford reveals he's always looked up to Man City's Raheem Sterling Manchester Evening News 15:23 29-May-19 What Matthijs de Ligt said about Marcus Rashford resurfaces amid Manchester United speculation Manchester Evening News 14:12 29-May-19
Transfer Talk: Barcelona make Man United's Rashford top target

---

Frenkie de Jong: The new Barcelona signing compared to Franz Beckenbauer with a 'touch of Johan Cruyff' talkSPORT. Frenkie de Jong has signed for Barcelona in a £65million deal, plus add-ons, from Ajax in a move which will go through in the summer.
Franz Beckenbauer News, May 30, 10:46 pm - Headline Grabber

---

'Arsenal need as big a clear out as Man United this summer', says Gunners legend Ray Parlour. The Gunners' hopes of a top-four finish were dented by a 3-2 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on
Arsenal need as big a clear out as Man United this summer

---

Leeds host West Brom on Friday night in a game that could have huge ramifications come the end of the season. Leeds vs West Brom TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview | Goal.com Women's
Match Preview - Leeds vs W Brom | 01 Mar 2019

---

Tottenham's Argentinean manager Mauricio Pochettino is supporting ENGLAND at World Cup 2018, reveals skipper Harry Kane. Two-goal hero of opening win over Tunisia reveals texts he got from his

---

Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent fears the club may struggle to keep hold of South Korean star Heung-Min Son after his brilliant campaign. The forward has been one of the best performers in the Premier League this season, certainly since December having scored 11 goals in his last 15 games.
Tottenham may struggle to keep hold of 'amazing' Son - Bent

---