Lamine Yamal talks Flick, Nico Williams, Fermin, Messi, Neymar, World Cup – ‘Have to get back to our best’ | OneFootball

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal went into the international break after helping his team to a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.

The 18-year-old gem won and scored the penalty for the Blaugrana on the night at Estadio de Vallecas, although he could not inspire the team to a victory.

Following the game, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his dissatisfaction at the performance of the team, while he also made a pointed remark about players needing to set their egos aside for the better of the team.

Flick’s comments have led to speculations among fans and the media about who the manager was talking about.

Lamine Yamal’s response to Flick’s comments

When asked about that in a recent interview with RTVE, Lamine played down the comments made by Flick, stating that the result against Rayo Vallecano did not have anything to do with egos and there was no such issue in the Barça locker room.

“That’s what everyone thinks, after a draw you come out fired up, in the end you have to win, but I don’t think it has anything to do with it [egos]. We’ve picked up seven points out of nine on very difficult pitches, which people don’t take into account,” said Lamine.

The teenager also pointed out that Barça have not played a single home game yet this season and have collected points at three tricky away stadiums, saying:

“We haven’t played at home yet, only away. I don’t think it has anything to do with that, it has to do with the fact that it wasn’t our game, we didn’t start with the intensity with which we finished.

“He’s right that we made a lot of mistakes, but that can happen. We have to get back to our best as soon as possible and be ready for the next game.”

Talking about how challenging it would be for this Barcelona to win the La Liga title once again after last season’s triumph, he noted:

“The hardest thing is to win again after having already won, but we are a young squad that hasn’t won four leagues in a row.

“We always want more, but La Liga is very long and it’s the competition where you have to be most consistent, and we are confident that we want to win it again.”

Regarding his relationship with his teammates at Barcelona and Spain, Lamine remarked:

“I get on very well with Gavi, I also get on very well with Nico, with Balde, Casado… I think I get on well with all the young players and have a very good relationship with them.”

On Nico, Fermin Lopez

Nico came close to joining Barcelona while Fermin could have left the club. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lamine’s close friend, Nico Williams, came close to joining Barcelona this summer before pulling a shock U-turn and renewing his contract with Athletic Club.

Talking about how things turned out with the Basque winger’s transfer saga, the Barcelona prodigy noted:

“‘Yes, I spoke to him, but I told him that at the end of the day, it’s his career. I’m too young to tell someone what to do. The only important thing is that he enjoys himself and has a good time wherever he is, and I’m happy if he’s happy.”

The 18-year-old attacker also spoke about his teammate Fermin Lopez, who came close to leaving the club before ultimately deciding to stay.

“He’s fine and happy as ever. At Barça, if anyone leaves, it’s their own decision. We’re a young, close-knit group with no problems between us, and we enjoy being at the club we’re at, so I don’t think anyone wants to leave,” said Lamine.

“We jokingly asked him what was going on with England, but he told us he wanted to stay, that he was happy.”

On Ballon d’Or and World Cup ambitions

Yamal admitted he dreams of winning football’s most prestigious individual prize, the Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be announced later this month, while also stating that he wishes to win the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona.

‘Yes, we want to win the Champions League (laughs). Well, yes, both of them; both are a dream, especially for Barça, the Champions League, it would be incredible,” he said.

“Obviously, all players want to win the Ballon d’Or, and anyone who says otherwise is lying. Being there at 18 is something to be cherished, and hopefully it will happen.”

On being asked who he would give the Ballon d’Or to, if he does not win, Lamine named two Barcelona icons, Neymar and Lionel Messi, as his picks.

“Neymar and Messi. I’d give one to “Ney”, I think he deserves it. The “Ney” who was playing for Barça or Paris at the time would definitely win it now, I would have liked him to have won one,” he said.

“And obviously, Messi because he’s the best ever,” he added.

Talking about the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Spain’s chances at the tournament, Lamine remarked:

“We have a team capable of becoming world champions, although it doesn’t depend on being the best, it depends on intensity, on not relaxing, on going all out, and that’s what we’ll try to do. It’s a dream for all the teams that are going to play in the World Cup.”

On what he wants to improve

Looking to add more goals to his game. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Yamal also admitted that one area of his game he is working on to improve is scoring more goals.

“In the end, assists come naturally to me, it’s not something where I say, ‘I want to make more assists.’ They come naturally because of my style of play,” he noted.

“It’s true that in recent years I’ve let myself get carried away with goals, I’m focusing more on that, at the end of the day they’re more important, something I have to demand of myself.

“When I reach a certain level, I have to try to move on to another; I’m working on that now, trying to score as many goals as possible, but always with the mindset of helping the team.”

On stepping up to become one of Barça’s penalty takers, he added: “In football, experience brings responsibility. As time goes by, I will take on more responsibilities, such as free kicks, penalties…

“Everything has its time. I’m in no rush, but I am a player with the confidence to do it. Whenever the team gives me the go-ahead, I’ll be there to do it.”

On criticism he faces

Despite being only 18 years old, Lamine already finds himself being criticised by many, for his lifestyle, among other things. However, the La Masia graduate made it clear that he does not let any of it affect him.

“The truth is that it doesn’t affect me. I’ve realised that everything that happens in my life will be talked about and, in many cases, made up, because things have happened in my life that I didn’t know about. I don’t care much about it,” he said.

Continuing, Lamine added: “In the end, I already said it on the day of my contract renewal: for better or for worse, I only listen to my circle, who are the ones who really know things and what matters.

“It’s something in my favour that helps me a lot because you’ll never hear that Lamine is sad or happy about something someone else has said. I follow my path, I stick to my mindset, which I believe is what has brought me here.”

On the matter, Lamine also expressed his gratitude to Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who defended the youngster recently by citing the example of tennis star Carlos Alcaraz.

“I’m really grateful, he’s been one of the people who’s defended me best, with just the right words, and yes, I agree with what he said. In the end, it’s the easiest thing for people to do,” he noted.

“Lately, most of the talk about me has been about what happens off the pitch, but people talk about me because of what I do on the pitch, because if it weren’t for what I do on the pitch, no one would talk about me.”

Not stopping there, Lamine further added: “No one would talk about a Mataro player having an 18th birthday party or about his personal life. I’m very calm, the people who matter know who I am.

“In the end, Luis, my coach in the national team, defends me and that’s no coincidence. I’ll always be grateful to him, and I agree with him on everything.”