‘We are dealing with a differential player’ – Xavi comments on Barcelona youngster’s MVP performance

Barcelona came away from the Santiago Bernabeu with disappointment and heartbreak as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid last night.

The outcome of the game, controversial thanks to the match officials, meant that Barça’s dreams of any late push for the La Liga title are almost over.

The potentially season-ending injury to Frenkie de Jong only made matters worse for Xavi Hernandez & co.

The only silver lining for Barcelona on the night was the performance of teenage winger Lamine Yamal.

The 16-year-old, featuring in his first El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, was in full flow, causing all sorts of problems to the Real Madrid defence, in particular Eduardo Camavinga, as he ran circles around him.

Xavi hails ‘differential’ Yamal

Lamine Yamal finished the match with the Man of the Match award in the bag ahead of players like Lucas Vazquez and Jude Bellingham, indicating the impact he had made.

Speaking to the media after the game, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez lavished huge praise on young Lamine, calling him the present and the future of the club.

“With Lamine we are having an exceptional player. In one-on-one action he is almost unstoppable, at 16 years old, it is an amazing debut. We have a wonderful present and future,” Xavi said.

“Without comparing him to anyone, with Lamine we are dealing with a differential player,” he added.

Xavi was full of praise for Lamine. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“The future with these young talents will be bright for Barça,” Xavi further continued.

Lamine denied a goal

With the game tied at 1-1 in the first half, Barcelona should have gone ahead when Lamine Yamal flicked the ball from a corner towards Andriy Lunin’s goal.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper scrambled and pushed the ball out, but it appeared that the ball had already crossed the goalline.

However, the referee and the VAR, after seeing a couple of angles, decided there was not enough conclusive evidence to award the goal.

And with no goalline technology in La Liga, Yamal was denied what would have been a special Clasico goal for him at the Bernabeu.

As such, Xavi was very critical of the match officials after the game, calling the outcome of the game ‘an injustice’.

Source: Mundo Deportivo