The last season was the first time in 27 years that there was no number 10 in the FC Barcelona squad. The player who had been allotted this shirt was sent on a loan to Brighton and Hove Albion in the last days of the last summer transfer window, and the Catalans did not give this number to anyone else after his departure.
This number 10 holds a special significance for almost every team, and that is especially the case at Barcelona. Some of the biggest names in the Catalan club’s history have worn this number, including the likes of Hristo Stoichkov, Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi.
In the current squad, there is a clear player who deserves to wear this shirt, i.e., the youngster Lamine Yamal, who has all the ingredients to follow these previous holders of the number on their path to glory.
However, a recent report indicated that the youngster was not too keen to don this shirt, especially as he was worried about how the career of the last owner of the number, Ansu Fati, had developed.
But recently Lamine Yamal appeared in an interview with Onda Cero and clearly mentioned that wearing this number is a dream for him, and he would not hesitate if it was offered to him:
“The number ’10’ is Ansu’s jersey, and we have to respect that. If Barça offers it to me, I have always said it would be my dream.”
Thus, the youngster has himself dispelled the previous reports of him not being ready to wear this shirt for now. His performances at the highest level with Barcelona and the Spanish National Team show that he is ready for the responsibility that comes with this number, and these comments make clear that he is not afraid to take on this responsibility this season.
