Lamine Yamal talks Flick, La Masia, injury, trophy ambitions, personal challenges | OneFootball

In an interview with Barça One earlier today, Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal reflected on his 2024 – a year that has already placed him among the best players in the world at the top of world football.

The 17-year-old La Masia graduate, who is now the third most valuable player in the world, has tasted plenty of success personally while lifting the UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain. Reflecting on the successful year he has had, Lamine said:

“This year, the collective titles were missing at Barça, which is what excites me the most, but we will try to win the League, Cup, Champions, and everything we can.”

Looking ahead to the immediate future in 2025, the Spanish international set himself an individual challenge.

“I need to score more goals. I have improved a lot in assists, so that is my challenge,” he said.

Yamal’s assist tally has grown considerably this season, thanks in part to the outside-of-the-boot curling passes that his teammate Raphinha more often than not gets on the end of.

“Since I was a child, I have made those passes. For me, it is a better option than using my right foot, because sometimes I do not know where the ball will go, to be honest,” said Lamine.

“It is going well for me. Raphinha’s movements are also very important. He is a very fast player, and I can give him that ball.”

While scoring goals is his “challenge,” Lamine already has one goal for Barcelona that he holds dear: the third of the four goals Barcelona scored against Real Madrid in the October El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I was very happy with my goal at the Bernabeu because we were leading 0-2, and everyone knows that Madrid often scores in the final minutes, so the 0-3 almost sealed the game. It was a Clasico watched by everyone, so scoring in that match was a dream.”

Yamal enjoyed scoring at the Bernabeu. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Barcelona sensation also shared his preferred style of play, explaining in detail: “When I have the ball on the wing, that is when I am 100% myself. There I can do whatever I want; there are no rules, I have freedom of movement.”

However, he clarified that “In the end, when I drop to receive in the middle and defend, you need to play with one or two touches, not lose the ball, be a good teammate, and track back to defend.”

The winger, who has seen the most growth of any player in the world, admitted that some matches stand out.

“Before the game, everyone knows if they are mentally in it. You are always motivated, but there are important games, like against Madrid, Atletico, or in the Champions League… where you have that extra spark.”

Reflecting on his personal development, Lamine considered 2024 to be “a very important year, one in which I have gone from strength to strength. I have felt important, both at the club and in the national team, and I have gained a lot of experience.”

He added: “In your first year as a starter, things don’t always go perfectly, but what excites me most is winning collective titles, which is what I have missed at Barça.”

Lamine praised coach Hansi Flick for his support, stating that Flick gives a lot of confidence to the players.

“Flick gives you good advice and confidence. Before the lineup is announced, he explains it to you. He knows how to say the right things at the right moment,” said the teenager.

Yamal is currently out with an ankle injury. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“He always tells me to believe in myself and that I am very important for the team. Having confidence and a bit of selfishness is good.”

The presence of many academy players in the squad brings something important, which the youngster highlighted.

“In the dressing room, there is fun, happiness, and energy. Many of us have been Barcelona fans since we were little, and we come from La Masia. We know how important it is to play for this badge. We all give our best.”

Lamine, who missed the last match against Atletico Madrid and will be sidelined for a few more games due to a right ankle injury sustained against Leganes, assured that he will return to the field better and stronger.

“I am in the recovery process, but I will come back stronger and more eager. When you stop playing for a while, you realise how important what you are doing is,” he commented.

“It was not a problem from the other injury. It was just bad luck, a knock that caused my ankle to twist, and that can happen to anyone,” he concluded.