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Former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie recently picked the best among the players he's played with for specific attributes. He named two Barca stars in his list along with some from his national side as well.
Kessie played for the Blaugrana for just one season after arriving on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with AC Milan in 2022. He made 43 appearances for them, scoring three goals and providing three assists. He then moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2023 for a reported fee of €12.5 million.
In a recent interview, Kessie was asked to pick among the players he's played with for each attribute. When asked who has the best left foot, Kessie named his former Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele. He also picked the Frenchman for best Football IQ.
For the right foot, he picked AC Milan star Rafael Leao and former Ivorian forward Gervinho. He then picked Leao for skills and Gervinho for pace before naming Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong as the best passer.
Dembele might come as a surprise pick due to his struggles at Barcelona after arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for a massive reported fee of €135 million. He spent six years at the club but made just 185 appearances due to numerous injury issues. He contributed 40 goals and 43 assists in that time.
When Xavi revealed he felt bad about Ousmane Dembele's Barcelona exit
Ousmane Dembele left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a reported fee of €50 million in the summer of 2023. He faced his former side in the first year itself as they clashed in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. He scored in the first leg at the Parc des Princes but PSG lost 3-2.
Ahead of the second leg at Olimpic Lluis Companys Stadium, former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez spoke about Dembele's exit and said (via Goal):
"I felt bad about Ousmane because he was in an extraordinary moment here. I hold no grudges, and tomorrow I’ll greet him with all respect. I have a lot of affection for him."
When asked about the potential reaction from the home fans towards Dembele, the Spaniard said:
"I don't hold a grudge against him. Tomorrow I'll greet him, as I did in Paris. With respect, I appreciate him. Let people show what they feel."
Dembele also scored in the second leg of the tie as PSG beat a 10-men Barca 4-1. Meanwhile, the Frenchman made 66 appearances under Xavi, scoring 10 goals and providing 22 assists.
