Pires Tells Barcelona To Pick Dembele Over Neymar

By Max Wise

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires says he would prefer Barcelona to keep Ousmane Dembele than swap him for Neymar.

Neymar has been linked with a return to Camp Nou whiles off-field issues and indisciplinary issues regarding Dembele has reportedly opened the door for a likely Barcelona exit.

Dembele has struck eight times in 19 appearances in all competitions this season, and Pires believes Barcelona should keep the former Rennes and Borussia Dortmund winger rather than moving for the football's most expensive footballer.

"I love him [Dembele] very much," he told Mundo Deportivo. "We always talk about [Lionel] Messi, but this guy is very good."

"He's young but what he does we all did as kids. What you must do is self-impose discipline in your life, but he is young and with his quality and talent, he can help Barca to win the Champions League and also the league, as we have seen against Tottenham and Espanyol with great goals." 

"If I had to choose, I would not change Dembele for Neymar. Ousmane is 21, plays with the left and the right [foot] with a lot of quality with the ball. He has a lot of potential, more than what we've seen so far."