🚨🎙️ THOMAS FRANK ON LAMINE YAMAL AFTER SPAIN'S 4-0 WIN AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA:
🗣️“People keep asking me if Lamine Yamal is the future of football.
The future?
I think people are watching the wrong player.
Because when I watch him, I don't see a player preparing to become world-class.
I see a player who already is.
The frightening part is that he's only 18.
What makes him special isn't the dribbling. Plenty of players can dribble.
It isn't the pace. Plenty of players are quick.
It isn't even the goals or assists.
It's the decisions.
That's the part people don't understand.
Most young players receive the ball and think about what they're going to do next.
Lamine receives the ball already knowing what everyone else is about to do.
That's a completely different level of football intelligence.
And that's why defenders are struggling with him.
You can stop speed.
You can stop strength.
You can even stop talent on certain days.
But how do you stop a player who sees the game two or three seconds before everyone else?”
“I watched some of his recent interviews and what stood out wasn't confidence.
It was certainty.
There are young players who hope they'll become great.
Lamine speaks like someone who already knows where he's going.
Normally that would worry me.
Normally I'd say it's dangerous.
But then you watch him play and you realise the confidence is justified.”
“People compare him to Messi.
I understand why.
The left foot.
The creativity.
The way defenders panic when he gets the ball.
But I actually think those comparisons are unfair.
Not because they're too big.
Because they stop people from appreciating what makes Lamine different.
He's creating his own story.
And trust me, that's a very dangerous thing for the rest of football.”
“The scary part?
I don't think we've seen the best version of him yet.
He's still learning.
Still developing physically.
Still understanding how much influence he can have on games.
Imagine hearing that about a player who is already deciding matches for Barcelona and Spain.
That's terrifying.”
“And I'll say something now that might upset a few people.
If Lamine Yamal stays healthy for the next five or six years, football's next global superstar has already been decided.
The debate is over.
The only question left is how far he can go.
Because when you combine elite talent with elite mentality, football history usually follows.
And when I watch Lamine Yamal...
I don't see a future Ballon d'Or winner.
I see a player who might end up collecting several of them.”
🚨 CONFIRMED: Weeks ago Atletico Madrid and PSG agreed a deal for the transfer of Julian Alvarez, but the player rejected it.
Arsenal also made an attempt to sign him a few days ago.
The player appreciated the offers, but insists that the only club he wants to sign for is FC Barcelona!
— @mundodeportivo