Ousmane Dembele is back for Barcelona and is in the squad to face Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Saturday evening.
The French winger missed Barca’s 4-3 loss at home to Betis prior to the international break following a bout of gastroenteritis, while he also upset his employers after he missed training prior to that match and could not be located by the club for an hour-and-a-half.
That was not the first incident involving indiscipline from last year’s €105 million signing from Borussia Dortmund, but press scrutiny and reports have been unnecessarily mean-spirited at times towards the 21-year-old.
“We all try to help him to show his talent and give his best version,” Barca boss Ernesto Valverde said on Friday.
“He is the type of player who is difficult to find, with that talent that combines physique and technique.”
But asked again about the player, his off-field behaviour and reports he could leave the club, Valverde replied: “I don’t know what has been said.
"There have been two questions about him now out of five or six and perhaps there has been some viciousness with Ousmane.”
While Dembele returns, Philippe Coutinho is still missing through injury and will play no part at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.
Ivan Rakitic is also out and the Croatian could be replaced by Arturo Vidal in Madrid.
“He’s an option,” Valverde said. “He’s a player who is very committed with the team and he could be a starter, but we have other options too.”
Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann is set to face Barca for the first time since snubbing the Catalan club and staying at Atletico in the summer.
“He’s a great player who always pops up in important matches,” Valverde said. “We hope he doesn’t have his best night.”
