PSG's preparations for their crucial Champions League showdown with Bayern have been plunged into doubt amid conflicting reports over the fitness of Dembele.
The 28-year-old winger is considered a major doubt for Tuesday’s top-of-the-table clash at the Parc des Princes, according to a report from L’Equipe. The potential absence of their star forward is a significant blow for the French champions as they prepare to host a Bayern side that has won all 15 of its matches in all competitions this season.
Fears over Dembele’s fitness ignited in the immediate aftermath of PSG's last-gasp 1-0 Ligue 1 victory against OGC Nice on Saturday. The forward, who is being carefully managed after a recent hamstring injury, came off the bench for the final 15 minutes of the match.
However, as the team celebrated Goncalo Ramos’ 94th-minute winner, Ligue 1+ broadcast footage captured Dembele in conversation with teammate Achraf Hakimi, raising alarms about his physical condition.
The winger was heard complaining about his right hamstring, telling the Moroccan full-back: "It hurts, it hurts so bad."
Further footage from the incident revealed Dembele also stated: "I'm hurting in my hamstring... I'm hurting too much." This worrying sequence suggested a potential setback for the French international, sparking panic among the club's staff just days before their most important European fixture of the season so far.