“Lamine lacks something” - Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal told what he is ‘missing’ from his game by football-agent-turned-pundit
Football-agent-turned-pundit Josep Maria Minguella recently shared his take on what Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is lacking in his gameplay. The 17-year-old has risen to become one of the most prominent players for Hansi Flick's side this season.
Rising from the ranks of Barcelona's famed academy, La Masia, Lamine Yamal made his senior team debut in a LaLiga match in April 2023. The Spain international has been lauded by pundits and fans alike for his immaculate ball control and dribbling skills.
Yamal has also mastered the trivela pass this season, having delivered a few assists with his signature move for Barca. He has contributed 13 goals and 18 assists in 69 outings across competitions for the Catalan side.
In a conversation with the Catalan TV channel Beteve, football pundit Josep Maria Minguella criticized Lamine Yamal's gameplay, claiming he lacks something. He said (via GOAL):
“Barca play 70 per cent of the games against inferior opponents. Lamine lacks something… he doesn’t have a goal, he doesn’t have the goals he could have. Raphinha, for example, has more. What Lamine does he does well, but he lacks."
Minguella further criticized Yamal's lack of goals, adding:
"[Arjen] Robben, in his position, scored goals all over the place, because he would hook it with his left foot and shoot. An attacker has to score, otherwise he’s missing something.”
Yamal has recorded six goals and nine assists for Barcelona in 18 appearances across competitions this season. However, owing to his meteoric rise, fans and experts have high expectations from the youngster. While Yamal may be behind his teammates in terms of goals, his impact on the gameplay is unparalleled. The La Masia graduate is often lauded for his creative passes and chance creations.
"He always generates positive things for the team" - Barcelona boss Hansi Flick heaps praise on Lamine Yamal following LaLiga win
In a post-match interview with Movistar Plus, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick stressed Lamine Yamal's importance in the team. His comments came after Barca won 5-1 against Mallorca in LaLiga on December 3. He said (via News24):
"Today (Yamal) was very important for us, he always generates positive things for the team. He could have scored one or two goals today, he played very well."
Barcelona's 5-1 win over Mallorca was significant for the club and Yamal in particular. It marked Yamal's return to the starting XI after a short injury break. He came on as a substitute against Las Palmas (November 29), playing 45 minutes. Against Mallorca, the youngster contributed a trivela assist.
Yamal missed three games for Barca in November owing to an ankle injury. The Catalan side notably failed to win all three matches. The win against Mallorca also marked their first win after two losses (1-0 against Real Sociedad and 2-1 against Las Palmas) and one draw (2-2 against Celta Vigo). La Blaugrana currently sit atop the LaLiga table with 37 points off 16 games.