"The team’s star has to be very close to the box" - Former La Masia coach on possibility of Lamine Yamal switching positions at Barcelona

Former La Masia coach Oscar Lopez has claimed that Barcelona star Lamine Yamal will eventually be capable of playing wherever he wants on the pitch as he continues his development. The Spanish teenager has been a revelation on the right-wing since he emerged from the Catalan giants' youth ranks.

Oscar Lopez told Sport that he expects the winger to eventually shift to a central position. He said (via Barca Blaugranes):

“In the end he will end up playing wherever he wants because if he sees that a position is suitable for them he will end up there. Personally, I like to see the best players near the box. I think the attacking midfielder position would be very good for him. Although if he is not comfortable and believes that he needs to receive on the wing to control and face the opponents, it can be positive for him to continue there. For me, the team’s star has to be very close to the box because that’s where the games are decided.”

Lamine Yamal has been phenomenal since he broke into the Barcelona team at the age of 15. The 17-year-old has already established himself as a key part of La Blaugrana, bagging 25 goals and 34 assists in 106 club games. For the Spanish national team, Yamal has six goals and nine assists in 21 appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo urges everyone to allow Barcelona star Lamine Yamal develop

Cristiano Ronaldo has urged fans and media to allow Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to develop. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner discussed the Spanish youngster after he helped his nation beat La Roja in the UEFA Nations League final.

In a discussion with the press after he led the Portuguese national team to victory, Ronaldo said (via the Daily Mail):

“He’s only 17, and already he’s showing incredible talent, He’s going to win a lot of titles, both collective and individual. He is a phenomenon. But we have to leave him alone, that’s what I ask. He has a very long career ahead of him and will surely win the Nations League many times.”

Lamine Yamal has dazzled for club and country already in his career, helping Spain to Euro 2024 before leading Barcelona to a domestic treble. The 17-year-old recently signed a contract with the Catalan club until the summer of 2031.

About the author

Patrick is a European and international football journalist at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. A Business Administration graduate with a professional experience of 10 years, one of his earliest childhood memories is watching Calabar Rovers play at the U.J. Esuene Stadium with his father, with whom, he connects with, discussing the beautiful game.

Patrick’s favorite team is Manchester United for their unparallelled legacy and success in the game. He is a big admirer of Michael Carrick and his ‘smooth’ style of play back in the days. His favorite manager is Jose Mourinho, who according to him, brought a ‘swagger’ to football with his unique managerial style. Robin van Persie’s title-winning volley against Aston Villa for the 2013 PL triumph is etched in his memory forever.

Patrick always uses trusted outlets that produce accurate, balanced and fair information, and which present multiple point of views. He believes in reporting in a holistic manner for the readers’ benefit. If he could change a football rule, he would increase the number of substitutions allowed due to the high number of games played these days, to reduce injuries and so that youngsters get to show their talent as well.

When not covering football, Patrick loves reading, writing poems and short stories, and spend time with his dog Lana.

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Edited by Arshit Garg