Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has called for expectations and constant comparisons surrounding Lamine Yamal to be toned down, stressing that the Barcelona prodigy should be allowed to develop without the pressure of being measured against football’s greatest legends.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Spain’s next FIFA World Cup match, the Spanish coach made it clear that comparing the 18-year-old to Lionel Messi or Diego Armando Maradona is premature.
“The biggest mistake would be to compare him to Messi or Maradona. He is still in the process of developing and maturing. We are talking about an 18-year-old footballer who already possesses extraordinary maturity for his age,” De La Fuente said.
The Spain manager also praised Yamal’s character and mentality, adding that the young star is facing increasingly greater challenges every day.
“We have to let him follow his own path. Every day becomes more difficult for him because expectations continue to grow. But he is ready for that responsibility,” he added.
De La Fuente went even further in his admiration for the young forward’s talent, comparing him to geniuses from other fields.
“Geniuses are simply like that. Dalí and Michelangelo were geniuses as well. What seems extraordinary to us is completely natural to him,” the Spain coach emphasized.
Yamal continues to be one of the most talked-about young footballers in the world, but De La Fuente believes that the best way to nurture his development is to keep him away from comparisons with the icons of the past and allow him to build his own identity in the game.
