Ousmane Dembele has never played in the Premier League but the Paris Saint-Germain superstar once snubbed the chance to follow in the footsteps of two Liverpool legends. He had the world watching in 2017, including Jurgen Klopp, who was keen to bring him to Anfield to help him continue transforming the Reds back into one of Europe's elite.
The French winger met with Klopp in Paris but told the German coach that he'd 'made up his mind' to join Borussia Dortmund from Stade Rennes. It's a case of what could have been for Dembele, who spent just one season at Signal Iduna Park before heading to Barcelona in a £135.5 million deal.
Dembele was one of the most exciting talents in Europe, but his move to Barca failed to pan out due to constant injury issues. A controversial £43.5 million move to PSG in the summer of 2023 has proven to be the right decision, becoming a talismanic figure much like the seven players he named as his 'favourites' to watch, including a Liverpool duo.
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Steven Gerrard
England
Dembele named Steven Gerrard as one of his three footballing idols in an interview with Catalan outlet SPORT and he 'really liked' the Reds' former captain, who spent his career being worshiped by the Kop faithful at Anfield. An all-rounded central midfielder who could do it all, he relished popping up in high-pressure situations and firing his boyhood club to victory.
Gerrard is far from from the profile of player you'd associate with Dembele but his domineering playing charateristics made him one of the most enjoyable football talents to watch. His heroics in Liverpool's 'Miracle of Istanbul' 2005 UEFA Champions League final triumph were remarkable and a year later he stole the show in an FA Cup final win over West Ham United.
Steven Gerrard's Liverpool Career
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Trophies
Individual Accomplishments
Lionel Messi
Argentina
It's no surprise to hear that Dembele admired Lionel Messi, given he spent four years alongside the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner at Barcelona. The Argentine icon dazzled at Camp Nou, becoming the Blaugrana's all-time top scorer en route to becoming the most decorated player in the sport's history.
Messi can make magic happen in the blink of an eye and Dembele will rue his fitness troubles preventing him from playing more with the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner. The Catalans were crying out for a winger to take the reins from, for many, the best of all-time and their fall off in the post-Messi years is testament to how influential he was.
|Lionel Messi's Barcelona Career|
|Appearances|778|
|Goals|672|
|Assists|303|
|Trophies|Champions League 4x, FIFA Club World Cup 3x, La Liga 10x, UEFA Super Cup 3x, Spanish Cup 7x, Spanish Super Cup 8x|
|Individual Accomplishments|Ballon d'Or 8x, FIFA Men's Best Player 3x, TIME's Athlete of the Year|
|---|
Andres Iniesta
Spain
Another Barcelona legend who Dembele 'loved' was Andres Iniesta, who mastered the art of playmaking during an illustrious career for club and country. The Spanish midfield maestro was a creative genius, playing with an aura and a control of the game that budding midfielders look at for inspiration.
Iniesta's most famous moment came for Spain when he netted the winner in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final and that was just one of many of his iconic accomplishments. His partnership with Xavi in the middle of the park for the Blaugrana is perhaps the best midfield duo the world has set its eyes on.
“Before, I really liked Steven Gerrard. I loved Iniesta and Messi, they are my idols" - Ousmane Dembele.
|Andres Iniesta's Barcelona Career|
|Appearances|674|
|Goals|57|
|Assists|135|
|Trophies|Champions League 4x, La Liga 9x, FIFA Club World Cup 3x, UEFA Super Cup 3x, Spanish Cup 6x, Spanish Super Cup 7x|
|Individual Accomplishments|UEFA Player of the Year, La Liga Spanish Player of the Year|
|---|
Sadio Mane
Senegal
It can't be underplayed just how important Sadio Mane was in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team that won the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League. The Senegalese forward was rampant out on the left but also so potent that Klopp could use him centrally if needed, winning the Golden Boot in 2019.
Mane's speed and explosiveness gave defenders nightmares. When they saw him named alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in a front-three they knew they had a long night in store. Klopp's gameplan perhaps didn't work as effectively if it werent for the two-time African Footballer of the Year.
|Sadio Mane's Liverpool Career|
|Appearances|269|
|Goals|120|
|Assists|40|
|Trophies|Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup|
|Individual Accomplishments|African Player of the Year 2x|
|---|
Riyad Mahrez
Algeria
African football has a storied history of producing attacking gems and Riyad Mahrez is one of them. He flourished at Manchester City and was a key man in Leicester City's unlikely 2016 Premier League triumph. An exquisite left-foot unlocked defences with sensational long-balls over the top, but he could also find the back of the net with aplomb.
Mahrez may fall into the category of one of the English top-flight's most underrated wingers. His dribbling was second to none, and he picked up five Premier League winners' medals and was a member of the Cityzens' side that claimed the continental treble in 2023.
|Riyad Mahrez's Manchester City Career|
|Appearances|236|
|Goals|78|
|Assists|56|
|Trophies|Champions League, Premier League 4x, FA Cup 2x, League Cup 3x|
|Individual Accomplishments|African Player of the Year, PFA Players' Player of the Year|
|---|
Leroy Sane
Germany
There are similarities between Dembele and Leroy Sane's style of play, given they are both left-footed attackers whose pace makes them unstoppable at the peak of their powers. The German left Manchester City for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020 and has become a superstar at the Allianz Arena with standout performances.
Sane's dribbling abilities, creativity and goalscoring prowess have long earned plaudits at Bayern, and he's also clever with his movement and decision-making. He was reportedly on the list of targets Barcelona had in mind to replace Dembele when the Frenchman left for PSG.
"Today I like to watch Mahrez. I love Riyad. I like to watch good wingers. Sadio Mane, Leroy Sane" - Ousmane Dembele
|Leroy Sane's Bayern Munich Career|
|Appearances|207|
|Goals|56|
|Assists|50|
|Trophies|Bundesliga 3x, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, German Super Cup 2x|
|Individual Accomplishments|N/A|
|---|
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt- correct as of 05/03/2025.
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