Laporta: Lamine Yamal is a genius and his maturity makes him special

Joan Laporta, Barcelona's president, praised the young talent Lamine Yamal, stating that he is an exceptional player with great technical abilities, while what stands out the most about him is his maturity and understanding of the game despite his young age.

Laporta said in an interview with the Dutch newspaper "De Telegraaf" that the comparison between Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Johan Cruyff is inevitable, but each belongs to a different era and has his own career. He explained that Messi left his mark on an entire generation, while Cruyff changed the history of football and Barcelona.

The president of the Catalan club added: "Lamine Yamal deserves the opportunity to write his own history and build his legacy. He is a genius and an exceptionally talented player, possessing extraordinary technical abilities, creativity, and an outstanding capacity to surpass opponents, but what makes him even more special is his maturity and understanding of the game at such a young age."

He continued: "We feel a great pride that a player of such stature has graduated from the La Masia academy, representing the values, identity, and football philosophy of Barcelona. Our responsibility is to protect him and accompany him in his development, providing the right sporting environment around him, so he can exploit his immense potential," affirming his pride in Lamine on both a sporting and personal level.

In another context, Laporta emphasized that Barcelona's ambition is always to compete for all titles, whether in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, or the Copa del Rey, noting that success is not limited to winning trophies but also includes delivering attacking, attractive, and courageous football that reflects the club's identity.

He also touched on the historical relationship between Barcelona and Ajax, considering that Johan Cruyff represents the most significant link between the two clubs, praising his football legacy that is still present in Barcelona's philosophy and the La Masia academy, leading to generations of coaches such as Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Hansi Flick.

Joan Laporta's statements come as he participates in the third edition of the Johan Cruyff memorial events in New York, ahead of the charity friendly match featuring legends of Barcelona and Ajax on Sunday at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, marking ten years since the passing of the Dutch football legend.