"He is a special player" - David Villa backs Barcelona star to win Golden Boy award this year
Barcelona legend David Villa backed Lamine Yamal to win the Golden Boy award in 2024. The Blaugrana youngster was one of the most promising young players in Europe last season for both club and country, becoming key to Spain's victory in the 2024 Euros this summer.
After a successful 2023-24 season, Yamal received his first Ballon d'Or nomination this year. The 17-year-old is also one of the leading candidates to win th 2024 Kopa Trophy. Multiple Barcelona legends, including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi, appreciated the youngster for his incredible form at a young age.
Speaking to El Chiringuito TV, David Villa backed Yamal to win the 2024 Golden Boy trophy, and said (via Barca Universal):
"Lamine Yamal is going to 100% win the Golden Boy award. He is a special player."
In another interview earlier this week, David Villa spoke highly of the La Masia graduate but did not endorse him being compared to Lionel Messi at this age. The Spaniard said:
"I think, not because of Lamine, because he is a special player, a unique player, we have not seen anything like him I think ever because of his youth and precocity, but I have said it many times, to compare a player with Messi is a mistake. But it’s true that this boy is doing some things that make us think that we don’t know where his ceiling is going to be."
Lamine Yamal continued to hold on to his sensational form in the current season, recording three goals and four assists in five La Liga appearances for Barcelona as of now. The 17-year-old scored an impressive brace in Barca's La Liga fixture against Girona last week.
"It’s unnatural" - When Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta heaped praises on Lamine Yamal
During his recent visit to Girona to interact with children participating in his Summer Camp, Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta spoke to the media about multiple topics.
When asked about Lamine Yamal, Iniesta considered him an exceptional talent, and said (via Barca Universal):
“It’s unnatural, but these are exceptions that come along. He’s one of those players with talent above the norm. Now he’s starting. What’s needed is for him to keep learning and improving and to have continuity. He’s been playing for 16 years, not 23."
The Barcelona midfielder also spoke about Yamal's national teammate Nico Williams, who was heavily linked to a transfer to Camp Nou this summer. However, Williams eventually decided to stay at Athletic Club.
Iniesta said:
“He is young but his performance is what makes some of the biggest clubs interested in him.”
Barcelona will next be seen in action against Monaco in their UEFA Champions League opener on September 19, before facing Villareal in La Liga on September 22.