Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been given a reality check by Pep Guardiola, with the teenager informed of the need to “be calm”.
The youngster has been shattering records since making a senior breakthrough at Camp Nou. He has rewritten the history books in La Liga and the Champions League, while also starring for Spain – helping them to Euro 2024 glory the day after turning 17.
Yamal is being billed as a superstar of the present and future, but former Barca boss Guardiola – who is now in charge of Premier League champions Manchester City – has said of the precocious talent: “Rodri always tells me wonderful things about Lamine Yamal. He is extraordinary. Lamine? If Xavi gave him his debut, it’s for a reason. But I’m sure he’ll have ups and downs, he should be calm because he has a lot of race ahead of him.”
Guardiola benefited from the famed La Masia production line during his spell in charge of Barcelona – as he worked with Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta – and added on the Blaugrana’s ability to produce home-grown heroes: “La Masia never fails. This generation I don’t know what their parents have given them, but they go like planes. [Pau] Cubarsi, Pedri, [Alejandro] Balde, Lamine… The base has always been them and signing great players from outside.”
City are readying themselves for a friendly date with Barcelona during their respective tours of the United States. Guardiola will be reunited with his former employers when taking in a glamour pre-season tie at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
