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.

Several NFL players continued their national anthem protests during the 2017 preseason. The protests against what several players believe to be social injustice were started last season by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who remains an unsigned free agent. Here are the players who protested:

Week 3

Philadelphia Eagles: Safety Malcolm Jenkins continued his protest by raising a fist over his head prior to the Eagles’ home game against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night. Defensive end Chris Long, as he did last week prior to the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, kept his hand on Jenkins’ back for the entire playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and then Long gave him a hug when the song was over in a show of support. Safety Rodney McLeod put a hand on Jenkins’ shoulder as well. Cornerback Ron Brooks took a knee during the anthem for a second straight week. “Especially after Charlottesville, I couldn’t not do anything,” he said this week. Brooks joined Jenkins in raising a fist for multiple weeks last season before being sidelined with a ruptured quad tendon. He said he decided to take a knee rather than put a fist in the air because he believes it will offend less people, allowing more focus to be on the issue of social injustice rather than the form of protest. He told ESPN that he plans on demonstrating every week this season.

Week 2

Cleveland Browns: Eleven Cleveland Browns players took a knee in a circle during the national anthem before Monday’s preseason game. While the group knelt behind the bench in front of the Gatorade buckets, several other players stood nearby and put their hands on a kneeling teammate’s shoulder in support.

Those who took a knee were tight end Seth DeValve, running backs Duke Johnson Jr. and Terrence Magee, safeties Jabrill Peppers and Calvin Pryor, cornerback Jamar Taylor, receivers Kenny Britt and Ricardo Louis, linebackers Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins, and running back Isaiah Crowell (who was not in uniform).

Those who stood nearby were punter Britton Colquitt (who also had his hand on his heart), cornerback Jason McCourty, quarterback DeShone Kizer, defensive tackle Trevon Coley and offensive tackle Shon Coleman.

Philadelphia Eagles: Safety Malcolm Jenkins continued his protest by raising a fist over his head prior to the Eagles’ home game against the Buffalo Bills. In an apparent show of support, defensive end Chris Long kept his hand on Jenkins’ back for the entire playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Then Long gave Jenkins a pat on the shoulder pads and a hug when the song was over. Cornerback Ron Brooks was also seen taking a knee during the anthem. Brooks joined Jenkins in raising a fist for multiple weeks last season before being sidelined with a ruptured quad tendon. — Tim McManus

Los Angeles Rams: Outside linebacker Robert Quinn raised his fist in the air during the national anthem Saturday, as he did in the first preseason game and throughout the 2016 regular season. Quinn spoke to new Rams coach Sean McVay about his intent beforehand, saying he wanted to express himself while respecting McVay’s wishes that everybody stand. “It’s not just a stance, but an appreciation to ancestors who made a way for, and gave opportunities for, me and others that came along the way,” Quinn told reporters earlier this week. “It’s more of an appreciation than a stance, that not all has been forgotten.” — Alden Gonzalez

Oakland Raiders: Quarterback Derek Carr put his right hand on defensive end Khalil Mack’s left shoulder during the national anthem before the Raiders’ exhibition home opener against the Rams on Saturday night. Also, a week after remaining seated on a cooler in Arizona, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch again stayed seated. Plus, Raiders rookie safety Shalom Luani took a knee at the beginning of the anthem. — Paul Gutierrez

Oakland Raiders: Marshawn Lynch appeared to stage a silent protest in his return to the NFL, as the Oakland Raiders running back remained seated during the national anthem prior to the team’s 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Photos show Lynch, who suited up but did not play, sitting on a cooler while holding a banana during the anthem. — Paul Gutierrez

Rosenborg super substitute Samuel Adegbenro scored twice in the final 10 minutes of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier against Ajax to send the Dutch club crashing out of the competition.

Having already been eliminated by OGC Nice in the third round of the Champions League, Ajax lost 3-2 in Norway after losing the first leg to Rosenborg at home.

It’s the first time Ajax has failed to qualify for the main draw of a European competition since 1965-66, according to ESPN’s Paul Carr. Back then, a teenaged Johan Cruyff was only in his second season with the Amsterdam outfit.

“There will be long weeks,” defender Joel Veltman said after the match.

It’s been a disappointing start to the 2017-18 season, especially after reaching the Europa League final in May. The departures of Bertrand Traore, Davy Klaassen, and Davinson Sanchez, along with manager Peter Bosz, have had a negative effect on Ajax’s outlook.

Unfortunately, this is now life for the four-time European champion, which cannot expect to compete financially with Europe’s elite.

The loss of Champions League and Europa League revenue will only weaken Ajax’s spending power for the campaign ahead.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Quarterback Chad Henne has been named the starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, a move that puts Blake Bortles’ future with the team in question.

Coach Doug Marrone made the announcement Wednesday evening after Henne and Bortles split reps with the first team over the past five practices. Marrone decided to have the two compete for the starting job after another lackluster performance by Bortles in last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Marrone also announced that Bortles will get first-ream reps against the Panthers. Marrone will address the quarterback situation after the game and whether this is a permanent move for the regular season.

Henne, 32, has started 22 games (5-17) in four seasons with the Jaguars and has appeared in seven others. He has thrown 27 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions but has taken only one regular-season snap since he was benched in favor of Bortles at halftime of Week 3 in 2014.

In 65 career games, Henne has thrown 58 touchdown passes and 63 interceptions. He was a second-round pick by Miami in 2008 and started 31 games for the Dolphins from 2008-11 before signing a free-agent contract with the Jaguars in 2012.

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  Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said he was “not happy with the performance” of quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Chad Henne in Thursday’s preseason game and confirmed that he is “still trying to evaluate” who the starter should be.

Bortles completed 8-of-13 passes for 65 yards and three times misfired on passes to Allen Robinson, including two in which Robinson was wide open. Marrone said after the game that Bortles and Henne would compete for the starting job.