Ousmane Dembélé put transfer talk behind him and scored a crucial brace for Paris Saint-Germain in a 3-0 win over Lille that returned it to the top of Ligue 1 on Friday.
French media last week reported that the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner rejected a new contract offer.
His coach Luis Enrique called the speculation fake news and Dembélé’s focus was razor sharp in a game between two of the league’s top four.
His 12th-minute strike from more than 20 meters out gave the Lille goalkeeper no chance and his second 18 minutes into the second half was a reminder of why he picked up that Ballon d’Or.
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images
With four defenders in front of him, Dembélé somehow found space to chip the most audacious of shots that bamboozled keeper Berke Özer and dropped in just under the crossbar.
It was the France forward’s fourth goal in his last five appearances with PSG, after failing to score in his previous eight matches.
Substitute Bradley Barcola, another whose future has been subject to speculation, rounded off the scoring in injury time when he pounced on slack defending and slammed home the third.
The win settled nerves at the defending champions just days after city rivals Paris FC knocked them out of the Coupe de France.
Friday’s win lifted PSG back atop the league table, two points clear of Lens, who have a game in hand on Saturday against second-to-last Auxerre.
Lille remained fourth, 10 points back.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
