FC Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal downplayed any comparisons with Lionel Messi, saying that matching the level of the Argentine legend is ‘impossible’ and that he wants to be his own self on the pitch.
Speaking to the Spanish television station Antena 3, Yamal said (in Spanish, as per ESPN):
“I like that they compare me to the greatest player in the history of football, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.”
Yamal has taken the footballing world by storm since making his debut as a 15-year-old for FC Barcelona. He has since broken a long list of records for both his club and country, including becoming the youngest player to feature in and win a Euro championship when he featured for Spain.
He has added another feather to his cap recently as he became the youngest player ever to be nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Interestingly, Messi himself did not feature among the nominees for the first time in more than a decade.
Lamine Yamal also spoke about a childhood photograph of him along with Lionel Messi that went viral on social media earlier. The photographs, taken in 2007, were taken as a part of a UNICEF campaign and showed a long-haired Messi bathing Yamal, who was a toddler at that time.
Speaking about the photo, Yamal said, “Man, he [Messi] passed along some of his powers to me. I still have a lot to give.”
“I hope I never have to leave” – Lamine Yamal rubbishes transfer rumours amid Barcelona’s financial woes
FC Barcelona have been suffering from a poor financial situation for a few seasons after years of transfer recklessness, and they had to let go of influential midfielder Ilkay Gundogan just to be able to register their new signing Dani Olmo.
In such circumstances, the club’s high-value youngsters like Gavi, Pedri, and Yamal have been targets for transfer rumours, and media reports suggested that both Manchester City and PSG have been snooping around Barcelona’s #19.
However, Yamal solidified his commitment to his boyhood club, saying, “I hope I never have to leave. I want to be a legend.”
