DEMBELE INTENDS TO STAY AT BARCELONA

The young attacker wants to prove himself at Barcelona, accepting the fight for places and dismissing any claims he could leave the club
Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele insisted he would be at the La Liga giants "for a long time" despite being yet to hit top form.

Dembele, 20, made a move to Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in August last year for a reported €105 million.

However, a hamstring injury derailed the France international's season early and he has managed just 12 league appearances – seven of those starts – this campaign.

But Dembele is still planning to prove himself at Barcelona, dismissing any suggestions he could leave at season's end.

"I'm not going to leave after just one season," he told Telefoot. "I signed a five-year contract with Barcelona.

"I'll be here for a long time."

The arrival of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid in the off-season could further hurt Dembele's chances of game time at Camp Nou.

But Dembele said he expected competition for places at a club like Barcelona.

"It's Barca. It's like that. I'm glad that [Philippe] Coutinho has come in," he said.