SPANISH sports paper Mundo Deportivo believe they have uncovered why Ousmane Dembele is nicknamed ‘Mosquito’.
Dembele joined Barcelona last month for a club-record £96million from Borussia Dortmund as their replacement for Neymar following his £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Dembele could eventually cost Barca £136m, making him the second-most expensive player of all time after Neymar.
The 20-year-old has got fans and media alike excited over in Spain, as he looks to fit into Ernesto Valverde’s attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Dembele made an assist on his Barcelona debut as a sub in the 5-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday, before making his first start in their 3-0 Champions League victory over Juventus on Tuesday night.
And the France international is getting plenty of attention in Barcelona, with the Spanish press keen to get to know their latest high-profile arrival.
Dembele has been nicknamed the ‘Mosquito’ by his Barca and France team-mates Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne.
However, the former Rennes man has insisted he does not know why they call him that.
On the day of his Nou Camp unveiling, in an interview with Barca TV, Dembele was asked about the moniker to which he simply shrugged his shoulders.
“They keep calling me mosquito,” he said with a smile.
“I don’t know why but since I saw Sam last year with the French squad, he has called me mosquito ever since.
“I think it’s because I’m small and I move quickly.”
But Spanish sports paper Mundo Deportivo – who are based in Barcelona – believe they know the reason.
Journalist Xavier Bosch writes: “We already know that his physique and his football correspond to the definition.
“A mosquito is an insect of the fly family, very thin body of dark color, with six very long legs whose movement produces a sharp hum.
“Dembele is thin and with long limbs and the peculiar shape of his stride and move make it difficult to stop him.
“The proof is that in just over 90 minutes he has already caused two yellow cards in just three fouls suffered.
“In addition, his height has been key in two goals by the counter-attack.
“Much has been written about his assist to Suarez in the derby [against local rivals Espanyol], but the first goal against Juventus came after his control and sudden change of direction and from there it was the story of Lionel Messi and Gianluigi Buffon.
Dembele could make his first Barcelona appearance away from home when they take on Getafe in La Liga on Saturday (3.15pm).
Source:www.express.co.uk