Barcelona's Key Move to Prevent Poaching of Lamine Yamal Revealed
Jordi Cruyff, the former Director of Football at Barcelona, revealed that Xavi wanted to give Lamine Yamal his debut earlier, but they held back for this reason. It was a crucial decision.
Lamine Yamal continues to make history in the world of football. Despite Barcelona's defeat to Monaco, his stunning goal made him the second-youngest goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history, surpassed only by his teammate Ansu Fati. This milestone further highlights his remarkable precocity in the sport.
Since making his first-team debut for Barça on April 29, 2023, at just 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days old, Yamal has dazzled both the coaching staff and his teammates.
Jordi Cruyff, the club's former Director of Football, recalled how Xavi Hernández, the coach at the time, was impressed with Yamal's talent from his very first training session.
Cruyff noted that Xavi even expressed a desire to debut Yamal earlier, but the club wanted to ensure the young talent was under contract to prevent interest from other teams.
"I remember because in the first few training sessions, within five minutes, the then-coach Xavi looked at us and said, 'This is special,'" Cruyff shared on Movistar+.
"I recall that he wanted to debut him a bit earlier, and we were thinking... but we don’t have the boy under contract, so let's secure that he will be ours for many years," Cruyff added.
However, despite Yamal's evident talent, Cruyff emphasizes the need for patience with the young player. At 17, Yamal exhibits skills uncommon for his age, but the former executive stresses that it's essential not to rush in evaluating him.
"He’s a star, but we need to be cautious. He’s very young, and we need to give him time. He will have good moments and not-so-good ones. Sometimes he will make mistakes, although it’s rare at his age. It's better to keep our feet on the ground, work with humility, and allow him to grow," he concluded.
Lamine Yamal's journey is just beginning, and his potential seems limitless. With the support of his teammates and coaching staff, expectations are high for him to continue developing and surprising everyone on the European stage.
![Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana](https://prod-media.beinsports.com/image/agh9ifb2mw3ivjusgedj7c3fe.3840.png?ver=28-06-2024)