Lamine Yamal recently sat down with El Larguero before Spain’s big UEFA Nations League semi-final clash with France.
The young Barcelona forward, who has quickly become one of the club’s most exciting talents, spoke honestly about his career, relationships within the team, and how he sees the game both on and off the pitch.
Yamal reflected on his relationship with teammate Robert Lewandowski, pointing out how much it has improved over time.
“When I joined the first team, I was just a young kid from the academy. At first, we didn’t talk much. But now, it’s great. We spend time together even after training,” he shared.
Laughing, he added, “I think everyone has realised that when he didn’t pass it, it was because he didn’t see him.”
“He has the full respect of the entire locker room for everything he’s done, for everything he does.”
When asked about Hansi Flick, Yamal praised the coach’s discipline. “Maybe he’s a bit strict, but that’s what we need. We’re a young team, and without structure, players can get too relaxed. With Flick, I’ve always been on time.”
He also touched on his contract renewal, saying, “For me, the important thing is that people talk about what I do on the pitch, not off it.
“I wanted to resolve this quickly. I had no doubts about what I wanted to do; I could do it whenever both parties wanted. I resolved it, and now I can focus solely on football,” he noted.
Views on Ballon d’Or and future ambition
Yamal was asked if the Spain vs. France match, where he will face off against Ousmane Dembele, could affect Ballon d’Or votes.
He replied, “People talk too much about one match. For me, the Ballon d’Or should go to the best player of the year, not the one who wins a single game. If it were up to me, I’d vote for a Barça player, always.”
He also joked about Nico Williams not joining Barcelona. “It’s enough for me to see him with the national team. I told him if we don’t play together, then he better only win one thing, the World Cup,” he said with a smile.
Reflecting on his recent achievements, including winning La Liga and beating Real Madrid four times in a row, he remained grounded.
“Beating Madrid is great, but it is not a trophy. Winning the league comes from being consistent all season, even in the games people think don’t matter. That’s what really counts,” he added.
Read the full article here
