WHAT HAPPENED?
Yamal has played a starring role for club and country since bursting onto the scene and making his debut as a 15-year-old for Barcelona. The forward, who has earned comparisons with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, already has a European Championship title with Spain to his name and will be hoping for more trophies this season under Hansi Flick at Barcelona. Yamal has already been tipped to be “one of the best in the world” in the future by former Barcelona star Rivaldo, but Iniesta thinks that Barca’s teen star will need help to reach the next level.
WHAT INIESTA SAID
He told ESPN: “He is a player that makes a difference, he is special. He scores, he sets up goals, he draws the opponents’ attention. He is a unique and special player because of his age and what he has already shown. What stands out is the ease with which he plays, as though he were playing in his home. That is striking. I think we need to accompany his development. We can’t forget he is 17 and year after year, we need to be alongside him so that the very high level he has shown at 17, he keeps increasing it because that’s the demand of being in the elite, of playing for Barca and the national team. It’s a beautiful challenge.”
Iniesta also spoke about concerns over Yamal’s heavy workload for club and country, adding: “It’s normal that as a young player he can play almost all the games. Now there are many games, whether it’s for club or country. Tournaments have been added, matches have increased and all of this, evidently, causes the wear and tear of the players.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Yamal has already bagged five goals and six assists for Barcelona this season as well as landing La Liga’s Player of the Month Award for September. Yet there have been scrutiny over his playing time for club and country, with Barcelona president Joan Laporta criticising Spain boss Luis de la Fuente for being “reckless” after seeing Yamal pick up a knock during the last international break. Yamal’s sheer talent and the impact he is having currently makes it hard for managers to leave him out, but both Barcelona and Spain will need to be careful with his game time over the campaign to avoid losing the youngster to injury.
WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?
Yamal and Barcelona are facing a huge week at home and on the European front. First up is a clash with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, before Flick takes his side to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first Clasico of the new La Liga season.