Footballers have a knack for surviving scenarios that others in the sport would be scythed down for.
If a club has a poor run of results, the manager will get sacked, whilst the players continue to get a pay package.
Off-field incidents might incur a financial punishment, yet the individual usually is allowed to carry on playing.
Take Romelu Lukaku for example.
In most other professions, seemingly bad-mouthing your manager and suggesting a return to your old company could be on the cards would be penalized by a sacking.
Yet, Chelsea’s club-record signing only received a one-match ban and was forced to film a public apology.
His career at Stamford Bridge might be tarnished forever, but the Belgian is still able to kick a ball around.
However, there remains one Achilles heel that members of the sport simply cannot overcome: falling out with the fans.
Lose the loyalty of the supporters and you might as well walk away from your employers immediately.
If the life and soul of the organisation don’t want you, is there any point in sticking around?
Ousmane Dembele is probably asking himself these exact questions right now.
Dour times for Dembele
The Frenchman has become public enemy number one amongst Barcelona circles.
His refusal to sign a new contract has infuriated the owners and the coach.
Xavi dropped Dembele completely from two of his side’s matchday squads last month.
This looked like the final nail in the 24-year-old’s coffin.
As the winter transfer window gradually closed shut, the rumours about his potential departure from Spain started to ramp up.
The hottest of these links was to Chelsea, who reportedly at one point had moved to the front of the queue to sign the frozen out forward.
Exit door for Ousmane?
Eventually, nothing materialised as January closed for business, yet talk of Dembele’s possible transfer to Stamford Bridge continued.
According to Dean Jones, the Blues are confident in signing the former Borussia Dortmund attacker over the summer.
News of this escape plan must’ve made its way back to Barca pretty quickly.
Xavi recalled Dembele to the bench for Sunday’s mighty La Liga showdown with Atletico Madrid.
Although he never made it onto the pitch, those in the crowd certainly made his presence known by booing him before the game kicked off.
There is surely no redemption now for the former Borussia Dortmund attacker.
Maybe he could ask Lukaku for tips on how to win over the home fans…
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