Lamine Yamal made his professional debut for Barcelona last season, but it was his standout performances during Euro 2024 this summer that catapulted him to stardom.
The teenager, who turned 17 just before Spain’s victory over England in the final, dazzled throughout the tournament with one goal and four assists.
It’s fair to say that Yamal transitioned from a promising young player to one of the most talked-about talents in football by the end of last season.
New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, however, is keeping Yamal grounded. Flick, who took over from Xavi Hernandez this summer, is known for being approachable and well-regarded by players, but he is not afraid to enforce discipline.
Reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate that Flick has already shown his strict side. For instance, a senior player faced Flick’s displeasure for arriving late to a morning training session due to oversleeping. Additionally, Yamal himself was reminded of his responsibilities after arriving late to a team talk, and was humorously punished with a playful “tunnel” of teammates tapping him on the back of the head.
Under Flick, Barcelona has shown significant improvement, appearing sharper and fitter than before. The team is currently leading La Liga, having won all four of their opening matches, including victories over Athletic Club, Valencia, Rayo Vallecano, and a 7-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid.
Barcelona will continue their league campaign after the international break with a Catalonian derby against Girona.
