The technicians who have worked with him stand out above all the pause in his game and the decision-making
Rivals are impressed by the self-confidence and imbalance of a “different” player
Lamine Yamal has become the great sensation of LaLiga at just 16 years old and is on everyone’s lips. The world of football -teammates, rivals, coaches, trainers- have said theirs in recent weeks to explain the phenomenon. There is unanimity in pointing out that what he does is not normal and that, therefore, we are dealing with a special boy.
Those who have been following him for a long time are the least surprised by his explosion, because since he was little he always stood out above the rest. But the most significant thing has been to transfer this imbalance from youth football to the elite when he is still a footballer who is not fully physically formed.
These are some of the most notable phrases that have been said in recent weeks and explain, in some way, why we are facing a player project destined to mark an era:
Xavi (Barça first team coach):
“In the end, he is the starter not because of the coach’s whim, but because we see him capable of making a difference. He is a differential player, he is smart, he chooses well and the most important thing in football, the decision-making is almost always the correct one, which “is the most important thing in a soccer player. Lamine Yamal’s decision-making is almost always the correct one and many times it is the best possible. He is a player to mark an era”.
Saviola (Lamine’s former coach in Juvenil A):
“We’re talking about a different player, one of those who doesn’t come out often. That serenity that he shows on the field, that you see him with such a cold mentality to resolve, off the field is the same. He’s a very mature boy, who he adapts very well to each situation, and that at the age of 15 he already put the team on his shoulders with boys who were much older than him”.
Sergi Roberto (Captain of Barça):
“He has that special talent that one already has from birth. In other words, you can work on many things during your football career, physical matter, tactical matter, but talent is something that you have and Lamine has this talent, he has these things that make him very differential, very special and I think that everyone is seeing it, that’s why everyone is getting so excited”.
Raphinha (teammate):
“At the age of 15 I was playing for my neighborhood team. What he is doing is incredible: he has a lot of quality.”
Sergio González (Cádiz Coach):
“When you see a player like Lamine play on the field, the first thing you ask yourself is why you don’t have it. He’s a player with a lot of nerve and a very high level.”
Ivan Carrasco (his former coach in Cadet A)
“He doesn’t get carried away by the apparent urgency of time, because he knows that the plays cannot be forced, he is a natural intelligence, like his technical talent.”
Jordi Font (his former coach at Benjamin A)
“A great key to his game is pausing and knowing how to make difficult things seem easy. He perceives things before they happen, and this gives him the peace of mind to know what he has to do. It’s something you don’t learn, it gives you It comes out naturally and in the end this means that he never gets upset or loses his temper.”