The former German star Philipp Lahm called on football officials in his country to reconsider their player development philosophy, urging them to learn from FC Barcelona and its famous academy, La Masia. Lahm's statements came in an interview with The Athletic, where he emphasized the need to adopt a clear and consistent vision in developing young talents.

Lahm emphasized that the problem in Germany lies in the absence of a stable training identity, explaining that the German system shifts from one approach to another without establishing a specific long-term style.

He considered that the success achieved by Barcelona in player development was not a coincidence, but the result of a systematic approach based on a clear philosophy applied across all age groups.

The former captain of the German national team criticized the excessive focus on versatility on the field, arguing that a young player first needs to master specific skills and develop their core strengths instead of trying to be all-encompassing. He explained that specialization does not conflict with tactical intelligence but rather enhances the quality of performance within the team framework.

Lam concluded his remarks by emphasizing that Germany's restoration of its football status requires rebuilding the training foundation on clear principles, similar to what the Catalan school did, which over the years produced players with high skills and a distinctive playing identity that reflected in the successes of the first team.