At just 17 years of age, Lamine Yamal has already established himself as one of the brightest young stars in world football.
But long before the Barcelona faithful sang his name, those closest to the La Masia setup already knew a generational talent was blooming.
One of them is Oscar Lopez, former head coach of FC Barcelona’s Juvenil A (U19) team, who recently spoke to Radio MARCA about managing Yamal during the youngster’s final days in the youth ranks.
Oscar Lopez on managing Lamine Yamal
Oscar Lopez started by admitting that Yamal’s early promise was seen by the Barcelona youth coaches, and his rapid rise to prominence wasn’t a surprise to many.
“He already did everything you’re seeing now,” said Lopez. “But at the time, people didn’t know him as much. At 15, he was already an undisputed starter in the U19s, competing against players up to five years his senior.”
Lopez went on to talk about how, rather than working on Yamal’s technical skills, it was more important to take a closer look at managing his emotions.
“I focused a lot on maintaining the emotional balance that the leap to professional football requires,” he said.
Lopez acknowledged that the young winger’s personal background had shaped his mentality and made him emotionally resilient, which in turn has played a key role in how he has managed the pressure that comes with sudden stardom.
“He’s had to mature before his time. He’s a kid with a maturity that’s unbecoming of his age. In the locker room, he’s always been introverted, but what he needs to prove, he demonstrates on the pitch, not by speaking,” he said.
The former Barcelona youth coach went on to back Yamal to continue his rapid growth and maintain his stardom.
“He keeps evolving, he keeps improving, and he’s outstanding. I wouldn’t be surprised if at 23, he’s an unstoppable player,” he concluded.
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