April 6, (THEWILL)- Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal has admitted he has been flattered by recent transfer interest shown in him, but the 16-year-old is firmly focused on life at Camp Nou.
Yamal has enjoyed an outstanding debut season in Barca’s first-team setup, registering six goals and seven assists in 40 appearances thus far. The young Spaniard has also broken into the Spain senior side, becoming their youngest-ever player and scorer.
Barcelona club President, Joan Laporta, recently confirmed reports they had rejected a €200m offer from an unnamed club – believed to be Paris Saint-Germain – for Yamal. In a wide-ranging interview with Mundo Deportivo, the teenager was asked about his feelings on being the subject of such a huge bid.
“It makes me very happy that my work and my football are recognised but I am focused on the next game,” he replied. Yamal also discussed how he deals with the pressure of his rapid progression, stating that “pressure is something that you generate on yourself because in the end, when you are enjoying it, pressure will almost never be talked about.”
The famous number 10 shirt at Barcelona is currently vacant after Ansu Fati left the club to join Brighton and Hove Albion on loan, though he is expected to depart again this summer. When asked about potentially inheriting this shirt, Yamal replied: “It is Ansu’s number 10 but if in the end he is not still here, it would be a source of pride. It would be a dream for any child to be Barca’s number 10. Nobody in this world would say no but it is something that the club must manage.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
