Barcelona are lucky to have tied Lamine Yamal down to a new contract with an impossible release clause while also maintaining the youngster’s loyalty else Manchester City have found a reason to go after him in the near future.
The 17-year-old is gearing up for a return to club football action after a brilliant outing with Spain in the September international break and has sat down with the media to name a player he hopes to play once with during his career.
The Barcelona star’s dream teammate remains Lionel Messi but he is very much aware that that ship has sailed thanks to father time, but he hopes to be able to make it into a team with Kevin De Bruyne.
Manchester City fans could be experiencing De Bruyne’s last days at the club and the Cityzens are hoping to keep him for one more season at least. Reports of a move to Saudi Arabia filled the airwaves during the peak of the summer transfer window with the Belgian himself even admitting to the life-changing money that the move would provide for him and his family.
On the other hand, Barcelona and Yamal have been targeted by mega-money offers from everywhere since his breakout with reports claiming that Manchester City also have an eye on him. The world acknowledges the youngster’s talent and his admiration for Kevin De Bruyne could be the spur that City need to go after him while giving their fans what they want by keeping the Belgian playmaker.
Yamal spoke of his admiration for De Bruyne in an interview where he was asked which active player he would like to play with. While he was doing that, Cristiano Ronaldo was backing him as a future Ballon d’Or winner.
The five-time winner of football’s most prestigious individual award is currently working towards another personal goal of his which is to score 1,000 goals. He is currently at 901, a feat he reached with two goals in the ongoing international break. He took some time to speak to his former teammate and friend, Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel about prospects in world football who excite him and he mentioned the Barcelona youngster among other players as potential multiple Ballon d’Or winners.
“Kylian Mbappé can win the Ballon d’Or for the next few years, probably Haaland, Bellingham,” Ronaldo initially said when asked about the future of the award. But when Rio interjected by saying Vinicius Jr., Ronaldo added, “Also Lamine Yamal.”
Yamal is already the youngest to be nominated for the prestigious award when his name was revealed as one of the 30 nominees for the 2024 award which will be presented in October. Ronaldo’s endorsement of him represents the highest of praises that he can attain in his budding career.
This will also keep Barcelona on their toes as interest from De Bruyne’s Man City and other big-money sides are expected in the coming seasons.
