Lamine Yamal talks Flick, No. 10 shirt, Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid, Champions League

Not many footballers in the past have had the kind of impact Lamine Yamal has had on the game at the age of 18.

Still in his teens, the youngster is already in the conversation as not only a Ballon d’Or favourite but also as the best player on the planet, and every passing game only furthers his case.

With his agility, sublime dribbling and improved finishing, the youngster is turning into one of football’s most polished young talents, and it is clear that he is one of the team’s most decisive players on the field for both club and country.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo , the Barcelona phenom opened up on his confidence, relationship with Hansi Flick and honest expectations for the season ahead.

He began by revealing how Hansi Flick was crucial to his success on the field and how the confidence shown in him freed him to express himself.

“Flick gives me a lot of confidence and tells me to enjoy, to be brave, and not to lose my essence of play.”

The youngster was then asked if his personality and mentality helped him as a professional footballer, to which he said,

“I think so. In elite football, it is very important to trust yourself and have character. Always with humility, but knowing that if you are there, it is because you have the level to compete.”

Flick and Lamine share a strong bond. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Yamal then opened up on the importance of having a sports psychologist as a professional footballer and how he saw it now as an elite player.

“The truth is that I work on it a little in both ways. In La Masia, they always taught us to be mentally prepared and I also have some professionals who help me. It’s essential.”

Several players in recent times have equated Hansi Flick to a father figure, and the player was asked if he too saw the manager the same way.

“Yes, I talk to him a lot. He gives me a lot of confidence and tells me to enjoy, to be brave, and not to lose my essence of play. That gives me a lot of peace of mind when it comes to going out to play.”

With the Ballon d’Or set to be decided later this month, the young star was asked how it would feel to win the award this year.

“It would be a dream, of course. The Ballon d’Or is one of the biggest awards a football player can receive.”

On what he will do if he wins the award this year, he said,

“Surely celebrate it with my family and friends, who are the ones who have been with me at all times.”

With the likes of Ousmane Dembele competing after a near-complete season on all fronts, Yamal may well not win the award. When asked if he could move on if he missed out on it, Yamal said,

“Yes, totally. Winning the Ballon d’Or at 18 would be incredible, but if it doesn’t come now I’m going to keep working to improve every day. It’s like that.”

Yamal was then asked what his personal objectives for this season were, to which he said,

“I want to continue growing, help the team with goals and assists, and fight for all the titles we compete for.”

Lofty ambitions. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

With Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid seriously beefing up their squad in the summer, Yamal was confident that Barcelona could still outdo both Spanish giants.

“Both are very competitive teams, but I think that in the end, if we do our job well, it will depend on us.”

Speaking on the biggest competitors in the UEFA Champions League this season, the youngster named the teams he saw as a big threat.

“Manchester City or Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain… They are always there.”

Last season’s heartbreak in Milan taught Barcelona many a lesson, and Yamal then elaborated on what he learnt from the defeat to Inter Milan.

“That in the Champions League, any mistake you make is paid. You have to be more constant and never disconnect.”

Finally, he concluded the topic by outlining his objectives in terms of goals and assists this season.

“I don’t like to put on an exact number of goals, but I do want to improve last season’s numbers. In the end, the most important thing is to get the three points in each game.”

As Barcelona’s biggest menace, Yamal has constantly been on the receiving end of fouls. When asked if it had anything to do with his taking the number 10 shirt, he said,

“Yes, a little yes. The ’10’ has always been linked to assuming responsibilities. I like it, I want to be prepared for those important moments.”

He also commented on what he anticipated upon the team’s return to the Spotify Camp Nou later this year.

“I imagine it’s full of fans and it’s going to be a spectacular stadium. I was very lucky to debut at Camp Nou before the reform began and I think that playing there again will give us a huge plus to compete.”

Yamal also opened up on his dream of winning the FIFA World Cup, especially with the grand event rapidly approaching.

“Hopefully. Winning the World Cup is the dream of any football player. It would be something historic, but we have to go step by step with humility, knowing that we can achieve it.”

Despite being just 18 years of age, Yamal is nothing short of a footballing icon and Adidas recently handed the player his own logo, as they did with Lionel Messi and David Beckham.

“For me, it’s a huge pride. Having your own logo at this age is something I would never have imagined. It is a symbol of all the work I have been doing since I was a child,” he said on the topic.

“In the process, they asked me to give my opinion, to convey what things represent me, and I think the result reflects my style and my way of understanding football,” he added.

Finally, he endorsed the new F50 boots that he will debut against Valencia, which will have his personal logo.

“They are very comfortable, light, and by wearing my logo, I feel that they have something special.”