Isaac Cuenca might not be a player who is remembered by many Barcelona fans but for those who don’t know, he graduated through the La Masia academy and made 30 appearances for the senior team.
He left Barcelona in 2013 and since then, had a journeyman career at various clubs including Ajax and Granada before finally retiring in 2023. He has since become the technical director of the Aitana Bonmatí campus.
Coming through the La Masia academy, Cuenca knows better than anyone how that feels and can empathize with many of the youngsters in the Barcelona first team currently who have taken the same path as him.
During an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Cuenca was asked about the La Masia youngsters currently thriving in the first team, specifically Lamine Yamal. The former Barcelona player shared an interesting anecdote involving his nephew and daughter. Here’s what he had to say:
“Well, I have a very interesting anecdote. If you want, I can share it. Since we’re here. I was at home, and my nephew kept talking about Lamine Yamal because he heard about him at school, and my daughter too.”
Cuenca went on to explain why he took his nephew and daughter’s words with a pinch of salt. Here is what he had to say:
“I hadn’t seen him play yet, and it happens a lot that people say many young players are coming up, and they make all these comparisons between one and another, but I didn’t pay much attention. We’ve all been compared to stars, and in the end, some make it further than others.”
He went on to explain how this piqued his interest and he then requested Xavi to go see a Barcelona training session to see Lamine. Cuenca continued:
“In Lamine Yamal’s case, I spoke with Xavi to go see a Barça training session. Xavi opened the doors for me, and I went to watch him. I said: “Okay, this is something else.” The comparisons are fair. He’s a very good player with a lot of potential.”
Cuenca then continued discussing what Lamine has done since breaking into the first team and revealed that he wants the 17-year-old to enjoy his football. Here is what he said:
“At just sixteen years old, what he’s doing, what he did in the Euros with Spain, there’s not much more to say. Now what’s left for him is to enjoy, keep progressing, and, above all, for Barça to take care of him, keep him, and we’ll see what happens in a few years.”
Much like every single person who saw Lamine play for the first time, Cuenca was astonished by what he saw from a 16-year-old. Right now though, it has become a weekly routine for a player who is already becoming one of the best in the world in his position.
Cuenca’s words also serve as a reminder that not every highly-rated La Masia wonderkid has a successful run with the first team. Lamine Yamal, however, looks set to stay and Barcelona fans will hope he can reach unparalleled heights in his long career ahead.
