Is Barcelona better off with Dembele instead of Neymar?

Barcelona had cash burning a hole in its proverbial pocket following Neymar’s forced departure to Paris Saint-Germain, and the Blaugrana finally dipped into those funds with the signing of Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record €105-million fee plus add-ons.

Replacing Neymar is no easy (or cheap) task, as he ranks among the world’s best. But did Barcelona actually end up better off with Dembele?

At 20, Dembele is five years younger than Neymar and represents an even longer-term option for the club. His talent had Barcelona interested well before Neymar’s saga, such has been his meteoric rise to the upper echelons of world football. His first year with Dortmund accounted for only his second top-flight campaign, following his debut 2015-16 season with Rennes.

Dembele and Neymar share a few common traits, including a penchant for dribbling. Dembele completed 103 runs at Dortmund, more than any other player in the Bundesliga last season. He did so on both the right and left wings, and with tremendous speed, clocked at an average of 34.96 km/h. That’s ever so slightly faster than Neymar, who was timed at 34.83 km/h. Barcelona won’t experience any slow-down on the wing.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

While not nearly as prolific a goal-scorer, Dembele did find the back of the net 10 times last season, half of Neymar’s output at Barcelona in 2016-17. It helped make him the highest-scoring teenager in Europe’s top five leagues since August 2015. The young France international also led his team in chance creation, good for 63 attacking opportunities last season, to Neymar’s 127 (in 10 more matches).

Additionally, Dembele amassed 12 assists while at Dortmund, and his combination play with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ranked as the deadliest in the continent. Dembele combined with his strike partner for 10 assists last season, more than any other player providing for a single teammate in Europe’s top five leagues. It’s that ability that Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi will most relish.

Where the two differ is in their effectiveness at this current time. Neymar is easily among the top five players alive right now, which is a tier Dembele simply can’t count himself among just yet.

But the Frenchman is putting up numbers even Neymar didn’t reach at 20. Age plays a big part in comparing the two attackers, as Dembele offers Barcelona tremendous potential. And he’s on the right pace to become an unstoppable force … quite like Neymar is right now, actually.

As Michael Caley pointed out at FiveThirtyEight, the two men offer a similar attacking profile:

In terms of other potential replacements for Neymar, Dembele ranks only behind former Barcelona player Alexis Sanchez, PSG winger Angel Di Maria, and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale … and is at least five years younger than any other player who was considered. Dembele’s potential upside is massive, so much so that he might one day surpass Neymar entirely … and that day might not be too far off.

Besides Philippe Coutinho, no player other than Dembele could offer Barcelona this unique mix of talent, potential, long-term viability, and raw attacking output. In the end, the club might be better off entirely.