Dembélé excluded from squad after altercation with Luis Enrique at Rennes

Ousmane Dembélé will not travel with PSG to Lille on Friday night, a direct consequence of a heated altercation with Luis Enrique that occurred Sunday evening in the Roazhon Park dressing room following the 2-2 draw conceded in Ligue 1’s opening match.

It all started at half-time. Trailing 2-0 and dominated by Rennes, PSG saw Luis Enrique make two bold attacking changes: Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia were brought off the bench and replaced by Ferran Torres and Mika Godts. It was Torres who salvaged the result by scoring twice after the break.

According to L’Équipe, Dembélé waited for the Spanish coach in the dressing room after the match ended, while the latter was fulfilling his media obligations. The tone immediately escalated. The 2025 Ballon d’Or winner reportedly did not accept his early substitution or the criticism directed at the team over their lack of commitment. The 2018 World Cup winner also reportedly failed to understand the severity of his coach’s reaction after just one poor half, without having had the chance to correct himself immediately after.

Luis Enrique reportedly responded that his level of demand remained unchanged and that every player must be fully committed at every moment. The exchange, sharp but brief, quickly calmed down. Nevertheless, it led to a concrete decision: Dembélé will enjoy a few days’ rest this week and will not be included in the squad for the trip to Lille, which opens the second round of the championship.

The episode indirectly opens an opportunity for Ferran Torres. The Spaniard, decisive coming off the bench at Rennes, now has a place to claim in Luis Enrique’s starting XI.