Xavi and Francesco Calzona had to be patient this Monday. And for good reason. Present at a press conference before the Champions League round of 16 second leg between Barcelona and Naples (1-1 in the first leg), the two coaches had to repeat themselves on one and the same subject: Lamine Yamal. “Little Lamine Yamal has everything to become one of the best players, or even the best player in the world in the years to come”, hammered the Neapolitan coach, cornered by ten questions concerning the young Catalan winger. But this insistence has a reason, since the end of February – and even the beginning of the year – the 16-year-old has risen to the role of boss of a gloomy Barça. To compensate for injuries, and, above all, the poor performance of his elders.
Yamal for good
Current football has a number of disadvantages. Among the long list to enumerate, the normalization of the performances of teenage players is one of the main ones. It must be said that seeing 16, 17 or 18 year old kids playing one match after another has become a common occurrence, and that each club now has its key talent. In Barcelona, however, this data has never been so symbolic, carried by the saving performances of Lamine Yamal. Since the start of 2024, the figures have been crystal clear: the winger has been involved in 7 goals in 12 appearances (5 goals, 2 assists). Solid statistics with considerable influence, since Barça only lost once when their protégé scored or caused a score (4-2 defeat against Athletic Club, on January 24 in the quarter-finals of Spanish Cup).
Better, he also unlocks all kinds of situations, such as against Granada, by equalizing at the end of the match (3-3), at Celta, by obtaining the winning penalty in added time (1-2), or at Mallorca. , last Friday, by scoring the only goal of the match with a sublime curl, after having smashed Predrag Rajković’s bar in the same way, a few minutes earlier. Enough to allow Blaugrana to anchor themselves in this vital third place in the championship, and for Yamal to reverse the hierarchy. In his wake, it is also interesting to note the emergence of Marc Guiu, Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López or Héctor Fort, like a domino effect set in motion by Xavi and his laudable desire to revive the Masia.
The thrill of a gloomy Barça
However, every fairy tale has its rational part, and for Yamal, it is to be found on the side of the elders. First among the long-term injured are Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong. Then players in poor form, like Robert Lewandowski, João Félix, Raphinha and İlkay Gündoğan. Indeed, if he has slowly started again, the Pole is still dragging his spleen on the front of the attack, just like Félix, who has fallen back into his characteristic nonchalance since his ankle injury.
Not really convincing since his arrival, Raphinha, for his part, seems to be moving away from a lasting future in Catalonia. These unfavorable elements collectively therefore shed a little more light on the exploits of Yamal, who has become the real regulator of Barcelona’s results. Before facing Naples, in what amounts to a survival duel for two fragile teams, FC Barcelona will absolutely have to ensure the proper functioning of its new strong man. We don’t talk to him about age either, and that suits Barça well.
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