Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona talent, recently shared his story of growing up, his playing style and his hopes for the future in an interview with DAZN. Let’s find out how this young player with unlimited potential has come this far.
About training and playing style
From street football to teamwork
“Back then, I didn’t know anything about passing or running,” recalls Yamal of his first official training session. ‘As a child, I just played in the park and always wanted to take on anyone one-on-one,’ he adds with a laugh. ”When I first started playing, I was always thinking about controlling the ball, dribbling and scoring, and never about passing to my teammates.”
Then one day, his father took him aside and told him, “You can’t play football on your own. You have to learn to work with the whole team.” From then on, Yamar gradually learned to integrate into the team while retaining his creativity.
Creativity and moments of brilliance
Yamar considers himself a “creative” player. “Maybe I don’t touch the ball that much, but with just one moment of brilliance, I can create something special,” he says. “This ability makes the game more interesting.”
Dogs are the best training partners
When it comes to the source of his skills, Yamal reveals an interesting secret: “I owe a lot of my skills to training with my dog. Every time I go to training, my dad takes me and the family dog with him. He lets the dog off the leash and shoots the ball, and the dog chases after it, while I practice dribbling past them.”
About pressure and future career
Pressure is just an excuse
When asked how he deals with pressure, Yamal says: “A lot of people use pressure as an excuse when they don’t perform well. But in fact, pressure doesn’t exist. It’s just a psychological problem. If you focus on enjoying the game and having fun on the pitch, you’ll never feel pressure.”
The dream of playing for Barça comes true
Yarmolenko admits that he never thought his dream of playing for Barcelona would come true so quickly. “I was really happy when I put on the Barcelona jersey. Playing in the Champions League is like a dream for me. Everything happened so fast that I haven’t had time to take it all in yet.”
As for his goals for the next two years, he says: ”I hope to help the club win the Champions League and experience the World Cup with the enthusiasm of a young man. On a personal level, I also hope to keep improving and be at my best.”
Social and environmental impact
Be a role model
As a Moroccan-Spanish player, Yarmol has become an idol for many children. “Now, children in Morocco and Spain see me as a role model, especially after the recent European Cup. This makes me very proud.”
He hopes to inspire more people through his own experiences: “I hope my story will draw attention to the neighbours in the neighbourhood where I used to live. Many of them could also do great things if given the right opportunity. I want to tell everyone to keep working hard, because the opportunity could come at any time.”
Yamar mentions that he still often returns to the place where he grew up, La Torreta. ”It’s where I spent my childhood, and it taught me how to be part of a team and communicate with everyone on the field.”
The influence of family support
The sacrifice of his mother
Yamar speaks fondly of his mother’s support: “My mother worked at McDonald’s and although she didn’t earn much, she always made me feel happy. She was my role model growing up and I’ll always be grateful for everything she did for me.”
Even when she was tired, his mother always put Yamar first. ”Sometimes she was exhausted, but she never made me feel like a burden. No matter how tired she was, she always prioritised me.”
The company of his father
Yamar’s father is more like a “family friend”. “He is very young and our relationship is more like that of friends. My character and playing style are influenced by my lineage – my mother is Guinean and my father is Moroccan.”
The story of signing for Barça
When Yamar recalls his signing with Barcelona, he smiles and says, “Everything happened so fast, and I only have good memories. I remember the first training session, when they told me to bring my football boots, but I had forgotten to bring them and had to borrow a pair. These little details made me decide to stay. That was the first brick in my career.”
Summary
From playing street football in the park to becoming a rising star at Barcelona, Ramin Yamaal has written an inspiring story with his hard work and talent. Not only has he demonstrated outstanding football talent, but he has also inspired countless young people with his actions. In the future, Yamaal will continue to pursue higher goals, and his story will continue to inspire more people to bravely pursue their dreams.
