"He seems like an extraordinary talent to me" - Andres Iniesta heaps praise on Barcelona star
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta recently shared his thoughts on youngster Lamine Yamal. He praised the forward but stressed the importance of helping him continue to progress.
Yamal has been one of the star performers in world football at the age of just 17. After coming through Barca's famed La Masia academy, he made his senior debut in the 2022-23 season, aged 15, under Xavi Hernandez. He then had a breakout 2023-24 campaign, where he registered seven goals and nine assists in 50 games across competitions for the Blaugrana.
Yamal also helped Spain win the UEFA Euro 2024, registering one goal and four assists in seven games. Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, who recently announced his retirement, spoke about Yamal in an interview with Sport. He said (via Barca Universal):
“He seems like an extraordinary talent to me. At 17 he has done very important and above-average things, and now the important thing is to continue to look after him and make sure that everything is strictly controlled so that he continues to develop and grow.
“He is very young and he will have to improve every year to maintain this progress.”
Yamal has taken his form to another level this season as he's recorded five goals and five assists in 11 games across competitions for Hansi Flick's side.
Andres Iniesta on whether Barcelona will fight for trophies this season
The Spanish giants had a poor 2023-24 season where they went trophyless. Manager Xavi Hernandez was eventually sacked at the end of the season and was replaced by Hansi Flick. With the likes of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid also challenging on the domestic front, Barca will have to work hard to win silverware this season.
When asked if the club will win trophies this season, Iniesta said (via Barca Universal):
“I see it and I hope it too. If you talk to me about Barcelona I always see them as winners. It’s impossible for me to tell you that I don’t see Barcelona winning. Not because I like to say it, but because I feel it. We will fight for everything until the end.”
Iniesta, who also came through La Masia, won nine LaLiga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies, among other honors, with Barca.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have largely been excellent this season and sit at the top of the LaLiga table, three points above Real Madrid. They are 16th in the UEFA Champions League league table after two games.