Dembélé predicts Ballon d'Or for Maza and fuels PSG transfer rumours

Ousmane Dembélé sparked speculation on social media by publicly wishing Ibrahim Maza the Ballon d’Or, the Algerian attacking midfielder at Bayer Leverkusen, on the sidelines of the ceremony held Monday evening in London.

The two players were first filmed in conversation at the event. All smiles, the PSG striker appeared to introduce the 20-year-old to his agent, Moussa Sissoko. Dembélé then took it a step further by commenting on Maza’s Instagram post: « Next Ballon d’Or, insh’Allah », he wrote beneath photos of the Algerian international.

This exchange did not go unnoticed, as Ibrahim Maza has been on Paris Saint-Germain’s radar for several weeks. The Parisian club is reportedly seeking attacking reinforcement this winter to compensate for the lengthy absence of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. Under contract with Leverkusen until 2030, the Berlin native is also being tracked by Arsenal and Manchester City.

The numbers speak for him. In 10 appearances this season with Bayer, Maza has scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists. Capped 24 times by Algeria (3 goals), he is gradually establishing himself as one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders.

Dembélé’s comment, brief as it may be, takes on particular resonance in this context: a public mark of esteem from a potential teammate, at precisely the moment when negotiations could accelerate.