Lamine Yamal: comparisons with Leo Messi, their relationship with Hansi Flick ... the '19' confesses

The 'jewel' of FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, has revealed a series of details in a long interview with ‘Mundo Deportivo’. Among everything discussed by the young culé star, one of the topics that came to light was the relationship he has with the current coach of the Catalan club, Hansi Flick, with whom he admitted to having a fairly close and positive relationship.

"Very good from the beginning. Before I arrived here in the summer, I was at the Euro and spoke with him. The truth is that I was very surprised by the affection he has for all of us; he tries to talk to everyone. He tries to explain the reasons for things, whether he substitutes you or not. Anything. He tries to explain. He tries to make sure we are all doing well, and I think he is one of the best coaches I have had. I haven't had many so far, but the truth is he’s a ten," said Lamine.

"The truth is that I was very surprised by the affection he has for all of us; he tries to talk to everyone."

In this context, the right winger wanted to clarify whether he feels any kind of conflict with the German coach when he decides to substitute him. It should be noted that on more than one occasion, Lamine has been seen showing his frustration and anger when Hansi Flick opts to take him off the field. "To be honest, no player likes being substituted. I don’t either, obviously, but in the journey from being substituted to reaching the bench, it passes. I think, 'I hope the team scores another goal,' and that’s it. But I think it’s normal. I want to play, I want to get minutes. I see it as normal," he emphasized.

"To be honest, no player likes being substituted."

Along the same lines, Lamine Yamal, when questioned about his relationship with Robert Lewandowski, who was seen publicly reprimanding him on more than one occasion last season for a specific play, revealed that there is no bad blood with the Polish 'killer,' understanding the normality of his complaints. "Very well, we all get along very well this year. It is true that maybe last year, the context we were in, both the club and us, we were not in the best moment... In the end, veteran players like Robert, who comes from winning the Champions League and all, are more burned out. And us, being younger, come with energy. It’s normal; these things happen, and this year I think it shows that we are doing very well," he pointed out.

His role as a star of FC Barcelona and comparisons with Leo Messi

Talking about himself, Lamine Yamal is clear that despite dazzling with his football and being one of the big names in the offensive aspect of FC Barcelona, valued as one of the most eye-catching and acclaimed players by the fans, he avoids calling himself the great star of the Catalan team. "I feel comfortable, which is the most important thing. This talk about stars or non-stars, in the end, is about playing, demonstrating who you are. There’s no need to feel like the star, superior or inferior. It’s not necessary. What’s important is to be comfortable, play for the team, and have your teammates support you. That is enough," he recounted.

"This talk about stars or non-stars, in the end, is about playing, demonstrating who you are."

At this moment, the Barcelona striker responds to the constant comparisons made between him and Argentine star Lionel Andrés Messi, mentioning that although he sees this as a positive sign of his emerging career, it is not something decisive for him, as he is forging his own path. "Fortunately, I’m not the first one this happens to. That means it’s something people have inside them every time they see a left-footed winger or sometimes just when one is left-footed. I try to be myself. Obviously, Messi, and I always say this, is the best player in history, and being compared to him means you are doing things right, but I try to be myself. I try to pave my own way and give my all for this shirt," he added.

"Being compared to him means you are doing things right, but I try to be myself."

His great personal moment and the current situation of FC Barcelona

With this topic on the table, Lamine Yamal has expressed what, in his opinion, represents the reason for his remarkable emergence on the international sports scene. "To push myself more every day. Everything helps me. Things are expected of me that are normally not expected from a 17-year-old boy, and I demand that of myself. That is what makes me go further every day and want more," he pointed out.

"Things are expected of me that are normally not expected from a 17-year-old boy, and I demand that of myself."

At the same time, the Hispanic-Moroccan striker also delved into what, in his view, is the key to this exponential growth in the game that FC Barcelona has experienced this season, being a completely different team from last season. "Being a team. We have improved especially in being closer together, in the intensity we bring from training, every day. What is seen in the game is what we see in training. We try to give our all, all together, and that is what has made us improve," he stated.

"We try to give our all, all together, and that is what has made us improve."

The acts of racism he experienced at Santiago Bernabéu

Finally, among the many topics addressed by Lamine Yamal, the striker recalled the racist insults he received at Santiago Bernabéu during the league clásico against Real Madrid. Regarding this team, the '19' firmly stated that he would not sign for them, with a resounding "impossible." He also acknowledged the unacceptability of those insults and condemned such behaviors.

The Barcelona academy player expressed: "When you’re winning 0-3 or 0-4, they can say whatever they want; in the end, they can’t do anything. They are watching you play, watching you beat them on their field. They see how they can't reach the ball, and that’s all they have left. So, as Balde said, let them call me black or whatever... I am, and it doesn’t bother me. We are proud. And in the end, when they are winning, they don’t shout anything at you. It’s when they are losing. And that’s it. Obviously, it’s wrong. It shouldn’t be defended. There’s no room for this in football. They need to be taken off the field. But well, the Federation already knows, everyone has seen it, and they need to take the necessary measures."