Eric Dier has always held Mousa Dembele in the highest regard, but the former Tottenham defender has now hinted that he may have finally found someone who matches – or even surpasses – the Belgian’s brilliance.
Eric Dier departed Tottenham Hotspur in the winter of 2024 after spending nine years in north London, sealing a move to Bayern Munich in search of a new challenge.
Since leaving N17, the Englishman has enjoyed success abroad, winning silverware in Germany and testing himself alongside some of the best talents European football has to offer.
Throughout his time at Tottenham, Dier never shied away from praising Mousa Dembele, often describing the Belgian as the most talented player he had ever played with.
However, it now seems that Dier’s perspective has shifted slightly, as he admits to having encountered another footballer who has forced him to rethink his long-standing admiration for Dembele.
Eric Dier compares new teammate to Mousa Dembele at Tottenham
Speaking about his admiration for Mousa Dembele in a recent interview, Eric Dier explained how the Belgian was always the benchmark in his eyes, but admitted that his time in Munich had made him reconsider.
Dier revealed to The Fozcast podcast that he has been stunned by the quality of one of his former Bayern teammates, Jamal Musiala.
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He said: “Before anyone would ask me who the best player I played with was, I would always say Mousa Dembele. He made me have to think. He is just extraordinary; he does things that no one else can do.”
Dier then went on to describe the unique qualities that stood out when he first trained alongside Musiala, highlighting the artistry and freedom with which the player operates.
“He is an artist; the freedom that he plays with is incredible. That night I was just in awe of him, the courage to take the ball anywhere, the way he moves, the way he controls it.
“The way he glides past people surprised me. When I got there and saw him, he was bigger than I expected. He is skinny up top but has big legs, taller and stronger than you would think.”
Dembele has a lasting legacy as a Spurs fan favourite
Jamal Musiala is highly talented and technical, but so is Mousa Dembele, whose quality has long been recognised across the game, with countless players lauding the Belgian as one of the most difficult opponents they faced.
His ability to dictate midfield battles and glide past challenges made him a unique figure during his spell in north London.
Only recently, Alex Iwobi admitted that Tottenham’s Dembele was the toughest opponent he had faced, even placing him above both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when it came to difficulty.
The former Arsenal man said: “Obviously, played against Messi, played against Ronaldo, but for me I hate to say it because he did play for Spurs. Mousa Dembele.”
He continued: “We spoke about this in the changing room the other day – Mousa Dembele gives you this arm… Bro, he was a joke.”
Asked to explain why Dembele stood out so much, Iwobi added: “When you play against him, you understand – you cannot get the ball off him.
“He is technically sound and he does not really use his right foot like that – he is one-footed. Left foot is insane, he finds a pass, like he is just eating up any man. He was insane, he could control the midfield by himself.”