Former Barcelona manager hails teenage prodigy as future football genius – ‘He’s the chosen one’

Former Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernandez has as soon as once more showered reward on teenage ahead Lamine Yamal, insisting the 18-year-old has the potential to turn out to be the perfect participant of his technology.

In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Xavi mirrored on the expertise he had the possibility to debut in FC Barcelona’s first workforce.

“He’s the ‘chosen one,’ he may very well be one of many geniuses within the historical past of soccer, and it is dependent upon him, his ambition, his ardour,” he started saying.

Xavi went on to recall the prodigy’s early shows of brilliance, whilst a youngster.

“At 15 or 16 years outdated, he would dribble previous professionals, and even in coaching, within the teaching workers, we regularly puzzled who was the perfect, and virtually daily, or nearly, it was him,” he stated.

“He did particular issues, belongings you’d solely see Neymar, Messi, gamers of that calibre do. I noticed him prepared, and I wasn’t afraid.

“He wasn’t afraid both, he had no complexes, he could make a distinction. What he does at his age is fantastic.”

Reflection on his profession decisions

In the identical interview, Xavi additionally spoke about his personal taking part in profession and the moments when he thought-about leaving Barcelona for different golf equipment.

He revealed that Inter Milan and Bayern Munich had been among the many groups eager about signing him.

“In 2008, once we had been coming off a tough patch at Barcelona and lots of blamed me for not bringing the workforce ahead, Inter needed me.

“Bayern Munich was additionally , however Guardiola ultimately took over as first-team coach, and that modified all the things,” he defined.

He added extra element concerning the near-transfer to Milan. “I used to be near leaving Barcelona twice. The primary time was for AC Milan.

“I spoke with Galliani after the U-20 World Cup with Spain. The Rossoneri actually favored me, however I made a decision to remain at Barcelona,” he concluded.