Germany star in awe of Barcelona’s teenage prodigy: “It’s really great to see him” | OneFootball

The upcoming Euro 2024 quarter-final clash between Spain and Germany promises to be a captivating encounter.

Young talents like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Nico Williams, and their peers will square off against Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala in what could become a recurring duel in both national team and club football for years to come.

Despite the fierce competition expected between these players, there exists a deep respect and admiration among them, as Musiala emphasised in a preview interview.

After Yamal’s impressive showing at the European Championship, where he emerged as a standout for Spain despite his youth, the young player continues to garner praise. This time, it’s Bayern Munich’s Musiala who lauded the Barcelona player’s stellar performances.

“Showing this level at just 16 years old is really crazy,” said Musiala as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

”At 16 I didn’t even have the physical condition to train with the professionals… and he can always play along and stay at this level. It’s really great to see him.”

The admiration speaks volume

Lamine Yamal has been a standout player for Spain. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Musiala speaks with the wisdom of a seasoned player, yet it must be noted that he is still very young, having turned 21 in February.

He belongs to the 2003 generation and is considered one of Germany’s brightest prospects, making him four years older than his Spanish counterpart born in 2007. This age gap underscores the significance of everything the Barcelona player has achieved.

At 16 years of age, he has broken several records at the competition, with the latest being the youngest player to participate in the knockout stages of the tournament, aged 16 years and 353 days.

The admiration between these rising stars transcends the boundaries of competition on the field. It reflects a shared appreciation for each other’s talents and potential contributions to the sport.

As they prepare to face off, fans can anticipate not only a thrilling match but also the beginnings of what could evolve into a compelling rivalry between Spain and Germany in the years ahead.