If there's one aspect of Xavi Hernandez's management that perhaps hasn't received the credit it deserves, it's his prowess with young players. While in part he was forced into it, the likes of Alejandro Balde, Hector Fort, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Guiu responded well, but the star of that show is Lamine Yamal. Still only 16, he continues to improve with each passing week.
In an interview with the media of the Barcelona club, carried out by SportLamine Yamal described what it was like to make his debut last season.
“I came out to warm up when I entered the field, my ears popped, I didn't hear anything, it was like a minute, but in my legs it seemed like an hour.”
He admitted that despite playing just 7 minutes, it took its toll.
“I finished very tired. I went out to the parking lot where my mother was and everyone was very happy. The next day I trained again with the first team. It was a day of great happiness because the next day I trained again.”
🚨 Barça has not forgotten Adeyemi. @sport pic.twitter.com/GaHPHTnSY3
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Yamal plates he went on to explain that initially he was just a kid in the street, but now he has the respect of his peers, and gets involved more often, even in jokes. The 16-year-old will always be a fan of Xavi Hernandez though.
“I am grateful to him because not only someone makes you debut at 15 years old, and this season he gave me minutes in all the games I was able to play.”
“When you give the assist, you are happy to help the team, your teammate, and when you score it is a feeling of satisfaction, the whole body relaxes more and this is a feeling that you cannot describe.”
Lamine Yamal to the media of the club. #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/RmIM8IBnGE
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“He told me that I like to do it, the same as training and it was going well. That I come to play, to have fun.”
He certainly did that in the last few weeks. Lamine Yamal is arguably their most dangerous attacker in the last month, and has started their last five games in a row. The worry will be that the pressure takes away the fun for such a young, mercurial talent.
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