Ousmane Dembele’s Borussia Dortmund team-mate Gonzalo Castro slams winger’s ‘shocking’ behaviour as he tries to force Barcelona move
The 20-year-old's decision to miss training without permission has caused a stir at the German club
DORTMUND midfielder Gonzalo Castro has hit out at team-mate Ousmane Dembele, claiming that his decision to go on strike is “damaging the team.”
The Barcelona target has been suspended by Dortmund after he missed training without permission.
The 20-year-old skipped the session without informing anyone at the club and refused to answer his mobile phone to boss Peter Bosz.
Team-mate Castro told : “He was always there, he played an outstanding season. And all of a sudden, he doesn’t show up for training.
“We were shocked – it was new to us. I’ve never experienced anything like this.
“You can be sure that [if Dembele wanted to return] we’d tell him quite clearly that you can’t act like that and that this behaviour is damaging the team.”
Dembele has emerged as a top target for Barcelona this summer, but Dortmund have attached a whopping £135m price tag on the Frenchman.
“What I know from my own experience is that I was not able to make every decision on my own when I was 20. But it’s also clear that there are contracts and the club stands above everything,” added Castro.
“The club’s big strengths – the family spirit, the togetherness, the club’s aura – are in danger.
“Those things which make Dortmund strong are damaged. It’s incredibly different for the hierarchy.
“I can’t understand anyone who has any sympathy for a player who does not show up for training. That’s a no-go.”
Despite Barcelona’s keen interest in the 20-year-old, the move is far from guaranteed – which leaves Dortmund in a looming predicament.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has recently insisted that there has been no progress in talks between the two clubs.
The German giants have already rejected an offer of £90.3m from Barcelona for Dembele, who bagged 10 goals in all competitions last term.
