The upcoming FC Barcelona match against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League is going to be an extremely important event for the Catalan club, as advancing from this round is now one of the objectives set for Xavi Hernandez.
But in addition to the overall importance of the game for the team in general, one player for whom this match is going to be memorable is the youngster, Lamine Yamal.
This will be the first time he appears in a Champions League knock-out game, and this appearance will showcase the rapid progression that the youngster has experienced this season.
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the youngster spoke to the media ahead of this crucial match, and recounted how he has progressed over the years:
“I remember that when I was four years old, I used to go out with my friends after school, and in front of my house, there was a park, Parque Rocafonda, where I saw my father and my older cousin playing football. That was the first time I saw a ball, and from there, I fell in love with it.”
The Barcelona wonderkid went on to share how he used to play in a peculiar position as a child, and how he suffered while playing on the streets:
“I think I spent more time in the park than at home, probably yes. Every time I went out on the street, it was to play football. They used to put me in goal when I was little, and I would stay back there, getting hit in the face, and it didn’t hurt, I wouldn’t cry.”
“I always went home with injuries, and my grandmother would ask where I had been, or when it rained, I would fall and get all wet, but well, those are experiences you remember later.”
The Spaniard also recounted his debut with the first team in the game against Real Betis on 29th April last year:
“I remember that on the first day, I didn’t even know how to warm up, I didn’t know anything. It was a very nice start that I remember with a lot of affection. For me, it was incredible.”
Lastly, the 16-year-old Barcelona winger shared the origins of his unique celebration style:
“Everyone in my neighborhood did it because it shows the neighborhood what it is, but I remember that when I did it with Spain, it was crazy. From there, it has remained as my celebration.”
