Dango Ouattara: Bournemouth forward on Ramadan, faith and fasting

This season, Ouattara seems full of belief in his own abilities.

Despite not being a consistent starter, he has nine goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for the Cherries, including a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in January.

Those numbers are a vast improvement on last season, when he only scored once.

With Andoni Iraola’s side potentially challenging for European football, Ouattara says the team is “great fun” to play in.

“The secret this year is that we’ve had the same squad, virtually the same players and the same coach. It’s important to have a group that continues to develop together,” he added.

“You can see every time that the players enjoy it.

“We’re going to do everything we can to go further.”

Born in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouattara himself has been on a journey, having arrived on England’s south coast via French side Lorient.

Signed for £20m ($26m), when he made his debut in January 2023 he became only the second Burkinabe to appear in the Premier League, following on from his national team captain and former Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traore.

Still uncomfortable speaking in English for prolonged periods, he confirms language was the main problem when he arrived, but says religion played its part there too.

“My agent and I were able to find the mosque, so I started to get back into my routine,” he explains.

“And as I came to the mosque, everything went well for me with the football. So I found myself back in the environment I’d left behind in Lorient.

“It helps because when you find yourself in another town, having the community shows that you’re not alone. You have the opportunity to pray with other people, to meet new people.

“It keeps us focused on religion.”