Barcelona dressing room in awe of teenage prodigy following top performance vs Alaves

Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Alaves was largely overshadowed by Vitor Roque’s sending off and amidst all the drama, Lamine Yamal’s performance was kept out of the headlines.

As such, the 16-year-old wasn’t directly involved in any goal – neither did he score nor he assisted any – but his overall involvement was a sheer treat to every Barcelona fan. 

Building up to this, journalist Jaume Marcet has reported via SPORT that everyone within the Barcelona dressing room, everyone is absolutely amazed by his growth and the fact that he not only participated in the attack but also contributed equally in defence is applauded by everyone.

Yamal has taken up the mantle

Following injuries to Raphinha, Joao Felix, and Ferran Torres, Barcelona’s attacking options have been very limited. 

However, Roque’s emergence, Lewandowski’s return to form, and Yamal’s consistent performances have kept the attack strong despite having fewer players. 

Against Alaves, Yamal stood out the most, having completed 24 successful passes out of 31 attempts.

The seven passes that did not reach the intended target were because the 16-year-old was not afraid to test his imagination during his attempts.

Lamine Yamal gave a complete performance against Alaves. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Furthermore, Yamal actively engaged with Alaves’ defenders, winning nine out of 17 duels, completing four dribbles, and recovering the ball five times.

These statistics highlight his positive impact, but they don’t fully capture his exceptional performance, including a skilful move towards the end of the game that demonstrated his confidence and ability to help the team.

Xavi is a fan

Speaking after the game, manager Xavi addressed Yamal’s growth in detail, explaining how special it is to have a player like him on the roster.

“I would only need to give him the captain’s armband, he has been playing 90 minutes in several games. He has all my confidence and I have spoken a lot with him. I think he has no roof.

“In addition, I would like to highlight how he competes, and how he follows the side. He does not get tired, he travels many kilometres at high intensity, he leaves the opponent, fast player, a strong footballer; he is an enormous talent.

“I am very happy with his humility and ability to work, it is vital for the team, how he positions himself, how he closes, the rest is innate, I am very happy with Lamine”, said the manager.