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AC Milan and Spain forward Alvaro Morata has shared his high hopes for Barcelona’s young talent, Lamine Yamal. Morata believes that Yamal is set to become one of the world’s top football players.
With an incredible level of skill for his age, Yamal has already made an impression on the football scene, and Morata sees a bright future ahead for him.
Reflecting on Yamal’s recent achievements during an interview with The Athletic, Morata pointed out the forward’s summer, which was filled with both school exams and remarkable goals.
At only 17, Yamal displays a confidence and determination that Morata finds rare in young players. Morata admires Yamal’s focus and self-assured character, noticing how clearly the young forward understands his path forward in football.
“He’s got a very determined character that’s hard to find in a person his age. He’s got a very clear idea about what he wants to do,” said Morata.
“He’s got a lot of personality and has everything in front of him. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen a player like it. One training session was enough to realise he’s different.”
Comparison with Messi and Ronaldo
Morata is certain that Yamal will leave a lasting impact. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Morata draws comparisons between Yamal and iconic players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, noting that players of this calibre come around only once in a generation.
“Every 20 or 30 years one or two emerge like Cristiano and Messi. For me, he’s got everything it takes to make history.”
In Morata’s view, Yamal has everything it takes to make his mark on Spanish football history. He is confident that if Yamal continues on his current trajectory, he will go down as one of Spain’s finest players.
“I’m convinced that if he doesn’t become the greatest player in Spain’s history, he’ll definitely be one of them,” he noted.
At 17, Yamal already achieved a significant milestone by contributing to Spain’s success in the Euros, and his performance shows promise for even greater accomplishments.
“He already made history with us by winning the Euro. He was 16 when the tournament started.
“I hope he keeps this up because he’s my team-mate, because he can make me win more things with the national team and because my kids want to meet him, get to know him, go watch the games and all that.”
Protecting Yamal
Morata wants to help Yamal. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)The challenge, however, lies in managing Yamal’s development without overwhelming him. Even the most composed young talents can struggle under intense pressure and early expectations.
Morata recognises the importance of protecting players like Yamal from the potential pitfalls of early success.
This sense of responsibility has sparked Morata’s interest in becoming an agent one day, where he hopes to guide young players, helping them avoid mistakes he faced in his own career.
“I know I can help players not make the mistakes I made. To help them, advise them and guide them in their career,” he said.