Lamine Yamal reflects on meteoric rise at Barcelona – ‘Everything is happening so fast’

Lamine Yamal is the focus of a special documentary by DAZN, ‘Decoded’ which explores his rapid rise at FC Barcelona. Despite being just 17 years old, the winger has already made history with his performances.

In an interview for the documentary, the 2024 Golden Boy spoke about his footballing origins, his mindset, and his ambitions.

“Pressure does not exist. It is just something mental. You just have to focus on enjoying yourself,” said Lamine, about how he deals with the pressure of playing for Barcelona at his tender age.

Expanding on his view on it, he added: “When you start playing, there is no pressure. If you play badly, pressure becomes an excuse. It is something you put in your own head.

“If you do not think about it, it is not there. The key is to have fun, enjoy the game, and then there is no pressure – that is what I try to do.”

Psychological support at Barcelona

Lamine also acknowledged the psychological support provided by Barcelona, particularly as he progressed through the academy playing alongside much older teammates.

“Moving up categories is exciting, but if a 14-year-old is playing with 19-year-olds, it is different. At 14, you are still doing silly things, while a 19-year-old is already paying rent or driving their mother’s car,” he admitted.

“The club’s psychologist helped me a lot because, honestly, I was like a ‘little brat’ in every sense,” the 17-year-old added.

Lamine also revealed that he avoids social media, despite being aware of what is said about him, saying:

“In my first year, I used to check, but before the Euros, there was a lot of talk about whether Nico and I were truly Spanish, while Laporte and Le Normand were.

“I decided to stop looking, and since then, I do not check at all, although sometimes my friends tell me things.”

“A lot of times, the media praise you because they support your team, and if they criticize you, it is because they back a rival club. What really matters is what your coach, captains, family, and those who genuinely care about you think,” he added.

Future ambitions

Asked where he sees himself in two years, Lamine made his goals clear, saying: “At the team level, I hope to have won a Champions League and to be looking forward to the World Cup. Individually, I want to keep improving and reach the highest level possible.”

At just 17, he understands his role as an inspiration to young fans, as he said: “Because of my Moroccan family roots, Moroccan kids look up to me. But Spanish kids do too, because of the Euros. I am very proud of that.”

Handling racist abuse

Reflecting on the racist abuse he suffered during the last El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, he shared a personal anecdote about his family’s reaction.

“My mother was really worried. She saw everything on her phone and thought I would be upset. She called me, but I was actually very happy because we had won 0-4. If we had lost, maybe I would have been thinking about why people say these things,” he said.

“But in the end, you have to enjoy life. If someone insults you, it is because their values are not right. They were probably just angry because they lost.”

Lamine credits his mother for ensuring he had a positive childhood, saying: “I always tell her how grateful I am. She had a tough time, but she made sure I never saw anything bad – only the beautiful parts of life. That allowed me to enjoy everything.”

When describing himself as a player, he emphasized his creativity as a key asset, stating:

“I am creative and fun to watch. I might go a while without touching the ball, but in one minute, I can do something exciting. That is how I see myself.”

From street football to Barcelona’s first team

Since debuting for Barcelona at 15 in 2023, Lamine’s rise has been meteoric.

“I always imagined becoming a footballer and playing for Barça one day, but never this soon. It is a dream to be playing in the Champions League,” he admitted.

“Everything is happening so fast that I never stop to think about it. Thankfully, I have never had a serious injury, and I am just enjoying this journey.”

The 2024 Golden Boy winner went on to admit that, as a child, he initially saw football as an individual challenge.

“When I first started training, I did not understand tactics. I came from playing in the park, where it was always one-on-one battles. I would get the ball and never pass,” he said.

“My father explained to me that I needed to involve my teammates, and that changed everything.”

Finally, he revealed a unique way he developed his dribbling skills, saying: “When my dad picked me up from training, he brought our dogs. They were off-leash and would chase the ball. That really helped my dribbling!”

Source: Mundo Deportivo