Lamine Yamal had multiple records to his name even before he turned 18, and now hopes to be remembered at Barcelona as a legend, having become a mainstay in the first team.
“The youngest player, the youngest with an assist, the youngest debutant, the youngest in the national team, the youngest with an assist, the youngest debutant in the Euros, in the semifinal, in the final…
“I don’t usually think about it much, but now that I’m saying it out loud, yeah — it’s a lot of things that make you really happy, and hopefully there’ll be more to come,” Yamal told La Liga in an interview.
Yamal will be one of the main stars to watch out for in the El Clasico on Sunday, with Barcelona eyeing top spot in the league table if it beats arch-rival Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Barca–Madrid has always been special for everyone. I think even in the league, lots of people watched those matches, because a Barça–Madrid — no matter the level, no matter the sport — is always special,” Yamal adds.
Yamal became the youngest debutant – at 16 years, 107 days – for Barcelona in El Clasico two years ago when he came off the bench to replace João Cancelo in a 1-2 loss.
FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal in action in his first El Clasico at Santiago Bernabeu, in April last year.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
“I had never really been nervous before a match, to be honest. But that time, when I stepped onto the pitch, I saw the faces of the opponents, realised they were really good, and that I was going to be out there too,” Yamal remembers.
“I felt a bit nervous going in, but after that, I forgot about everything.”
Madrid eventually became one of his favourite opponents — the Spaniard has more goal contributions (3G, 2A in seven appearances) against the 15-time Champions League winner than any other team. He has helped his side beat Los Blancos twice in finals, in the Supercopa de Espana and Copa del Rey.
“I’d like to be remembered at Barca as a legend, of course — the club has given me everything. In the end, my life depends on football and on Barca, but it’s still with me always,” Yamal adds.
