Lamine Yamal’s Unforgettable Debut: From Deafening Silence to Joyful Banter

Lamine Yamal shared a captivating anecdote about his debut with FC Barcelona’s first team against Betis at just 15 years old. In an interview with UEFA, the young talent reveals what happened the moment he stepped onto the Camp Nou pitch, replacing Gavi.

Yamal recounts, “I went out to warm up, and when I entered the field, my ears got blocked; I couldn’t hear anything. It felt like a minute, but in my legs, it seemed like an hour.”

Despite playing only seven minutes, he admitted that the tension left him “very tired. I went to the parking lot where my mother was, and everyone was very happy. The next day, I trained again with the first team. It was a day of great happiness because the next day, I was back in training.”

His role in the locker room has evolved in a few months: “When I debuted, I was like a child in the locker room, not as important. Now I have more confidence with my teammates; I am more considered. It has changed a bit, but with the coach, it’s the same, a relationship of respect.”

The advice he has received and continues to follow is to “be happy, think that when you’re feeling down, there’s always something worse, and above all, respect people. You are never better or worse than another. Be a person like any other.”

Yamal acknowledges that he is privileged because “every child in football dreams of being in the first team. Many coaches have given me confidence. But it’s not the same to give it to you at 12 years old than when you are 15 to debut at Camp Nou in front of everyone.”

The Importance of Xavi: His words toward Xavi Hernández can only be praise, and he will always be thankful because “not everyone makes you debut at 15, and this season he has given me minutes in every game I could play.” Regarding Xavi, he added, “He told me to enjoy, do the same as in training, and it would go well. To go out and play, to have fun.”

Regarding his relationship with the team, he emphasized the importance of knowing when to joke: “You have to know when you can joke and when not. Now I can, I like jokes, having them made to me, and returning them. We joke all day, very good vibes.”

Yamal also expressed the impact of the Champions League, saying, “In La Liga, there are games where you can be calmer, see how the game goes, but in the Champions League, the intensity is from minute zero. Anyone can beat you and do anything.”

Regarding the difference between providing assists and scoring, he mentioned, “When you give assists, there is happiness for helping the team, the teammate, and when you score, it’s a feeling of satisfaction. The whole body relaxes, and it’s a sensation you can’t describe.”