Barcelona Wonderkid Lamine Yamal Gets Manager’s Praise
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has praised young wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, calling their abilities a “gift from God” ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Croatia on Saturday. Barcelona’s 16-year-old Yamal has quickly established himself as a regular for La Roja on the right wing, while Athletic Bilbao’s 21-year-old Williams, who helped his team win the Copa del Rey this season, could start on the left flank for Spain.
Maintaining Humility
Despite their remarkable talent, De la Fuente emphasized the importance of keeping the young players grounded. “They are young players, especially Lamine, he’s a young boy, with incredible talent that only the chosen ones have,” De la Fuente said during a news conference on Friday. “They have a gift from God, very few players have these qualities.”
De la Fuente mentioned that he is working to ensure the players remain humble to aid their development. “We’re trying to treat the situation normally, but also trying to explain by being humble he will develop so much more,” said the coach. Yamal even revealed last week that he would still be doing his school homework during the tournament.
Possible Surprises
While Yamal and Williams have been impressive, De la Fuente hinted that he might spring a surprise against Croatia by ignoring the Barcelona and Bilbao stars for Ferran Torres or Ayoze Perez instead. “You might take it for granted that Nico and Lamine play tomorrow, you might think it’s a surprise if they don’t, but it wouldn’t be for me,” he added.
Veteran Croatian captain Luka Modric, who made his major tournament debut before Yamal was even born, acknowledged Yamal’s potential. “Everyone will see him as the greatest danger for Spain, he’s got great potential and a great career in front of him,” Modric said, joking that such comments make him feel old.
