Barcelona has always been known for producing some of the best young talents in world football.
Their academy, La Masia, has been responsible for churning out some of the biggest names in the game, such as Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and many more.
And on Saturday night, they added another young star to their ranks, as 15-year-old Lamine Yamal made his debut for the Catalan giants in LaLiga.
Yamal, who has been a part of the La Masia academy for several years, was handed his senior debut by Barca boss Xavi Hernandez, who had talked up the youngster’s talents earlier in the week.
And the young forward did not disappoint, as he put in an impressive cameo appearance in the 4-0 win over Real Betis.
What was most striking about Yamal’s debut was the fearlessness with which he played. Despite being just 15 years old and playing in one of the biggest leagues in the world, the youngster showed no signs of nerves as he took on defenders, created chances, and almost scored on his debut.
It was a performance that showed why he is considered to be one of the brightest prospects in the La Masia academy.
What Xavi said about Yamal
Xavi was quick to heap praise on the young star after the match. “He’s a player who can help us because he is talented,” the Barca boss said.
“He’s got a lot of personality, talent, he can play the final ball, take players on, he’s strong, we’re talking about a player who can mark an era at the club.”
Yamal’s performance on Saturday night was a glimpse of what the future could hold for Barcelona.
With a new generation of talented young players coming through the ranks, the Catalan giants could be set for another golden era of success.
With the likes of Yamal leading the way, the future looks bright for one of the biggest clubs in world football.