At a glance
- Lamine Yamal has received praise from FC Barcelona legend.
- More than his dribbling or stats, what amazes the Frenchman the most is the La Masia product’s intelligence.
- Henry also recalls Lamine’s impact in a Euros semifinal against France aged 17.
FC Barcelona legend Thierry Henry has heaped praise on Lamine Yamal while speaking to MARCA from a Samsung event in London.
The 18-year-old is currently out for the rest of the season. Yet his 24 goals and 18 assists have played their part in Barca closing in on a domestic double to compete with a treble last term.
“He’s out of this world,” Henry said, when asked about the left winger. “You know what amazes me about Lamine? I remember that in the semi-final at the Euros against France, in a counterattack, and already winning 2-1, he had the possibility to continue attacking.
“But no, at 17 years old, he had the intelligence to stop the game, and slow down the pace, because it was what was convenient for the team. And so he told his team. He controlled the ball, brought it down and delayed it to Dani Carvajal. What? At 17 years old!”
Lamine Yamal is about more than skill and technique for Henry
Henry pointed out that while “people look at his skill and technique”, he’s amazed “by that intelligence”.
“That boy plays as if he were in his neighborhood. Time will tell what happens, but he has shown me that he can be the star in any World Cup,” added the Arsenal and Blaugrana icon, in a nod to Lamine doing something special for Spain in North America this summer.
As Hansi Flick has already explained, Lamine will recover from his hamstring knock to help one of the favourites with their campaign.
Pedri is a cert. But they could also be joined by club teammates such as Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres, Pau Cubarsi, Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia and Gavi in Luis de la Fuente’s La Roja squad.
