
FC Barcelona Ace Lamine Yamal Answers Party Life Critics
FC Barcelona ace Lamine Yamal answered a question for critics about his partying lifestyle on the day that his contract renewal was made official and that the teenager inherited the number 10 shirt from Ansu Fati.
The Ballon d'Or candidate has come under fire recently for his lavish 18th birthday party and other trips to Ibiza and Brazil over Barca's summer holidays.
With Hansi Flick's men returning to work and starting their preseason on the landmark day for Lamine when he became of adult age, July 13, his contract renewal and inheritance of the number 10 from past greats such as Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, Rivaldo and Lionel Messi was made official on Wednesday.
Lamine answered questions in Catalan from the Catalan press and others in Spanish, and towards the end of a press conference, he was asked about his activities away from the pitch.
'At the end of the day I work for Barca, I play for Barca. And when I'm away from the Ciudad Esportiva (i.e. the Club's Joan Camper HQ) I enjoy my life and that's it,' he stated.
'The truth is that both criticism and praise, if they are not from my family or from people very close to me, I am indifferent, because if not, one day I will be very high and another very low,' Lamine also said elsewhere.
Regarding Messi, who is often compared to because of their similarities as left-footed La Masia geniuses, Lamine noted how the Argentine 'has made his way' while vowing to make his own.
'The 10 comes from Ansu now. So, I will try to make all the Culers happy, those who are there (at Camp Nou) and those who are at home,' he promised.
Lamien called Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi 'three legends of football, three legends of this club'.
'I would keep everything from each of them. I am grateful for the trust of the club and I will try to continue that legacy,' he added.
Lamine has pressure to live up to past greats at FC Barcelona
As Ansu could tell Lamine, there are fewer jerseys heavier than the number 10 at FC Barcelona. Being a first team great is one thing, but doing the shirt justice and living up to the names of those that have gone before him will add extra pressure on a figure that we must remember is still a boy despite having recently become an adult.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool in ‘direct talks' to sign Real Madrid star
Rodrygo to Liverpool? Real Madrid Star Linked with Anfield Switch Direct discussions show Liverpool's intent In the blur of transfer season speculation, there are moments when rumour starts to flirt with reality. This feels like one of them. According to Foot Mercato's Santi Aouna, Liverpool have entered 'direct talks' with the representatives of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, in a move that could signal the most audacious signing of Arne Slot's tenure. 'Liverpool advance for Rodrygo,' Aouna reports, adding: 'There are direct talks with the LFC and Rodrygo's camp… Discussions between the English club and the Brazilian's entourage have begun.' Notably, there is still 'no talk between the clubs', but 'the interest is growing.' That detail matters — it implies groundwork being laid, a deliberate courting of a player long admired. And with Luis Díaz reportedly edging closer to Bayern Munich, Liverpool may soon have both the funds and the squad space to act decisively. Rodrygo: A proven winner in limbo Rodrygo's career to date reads like a precocious prodigy living up to the billing. Since his arrival in 2019, he's made 270 appearances, winning three La Liga titles and two Champions League medals. His Champions League performances alone have hinted at the kind of player who thrives under pressure, delivering when it matters most. And yet, as L'Équipe and others have noted, the 24-year-old is no longer a guaranteed starter. Under Xabi Alonso, Rodrygo has found himself increasingly peripheral. He didn't start a single match during Madrid's Club World Cup campaign this summer — a telling signal in a club where the line between valued and expendable is razor-thin. For Liverpool, that presents opportunity. Photo: IMAGO Liverpool's ambition, Madrid's dilemma If Bayern Munich meet the reported €75 million valuation for Díaz, it would hand Liverpool the financial leverage required to test Madrid's resolve. As Fabrizio Romano notes, any Rodrygo deal would begin at €100m (£86m) — a steep figure, but arguably reflective of both his pedigree and potential. Rodrygo is not simply a winger — he is a multi-functional attacker, equally comfortable in wide roles or central spaces. His arrival could future-proof Liverpool's front line, offering depth, versatility and Champions League experience in one. For Madrid, the decision will hinge on how much they value Rodrygo's long-term role. With Endrick, Vinicius Jr., and others jostling for wide attacking spots, the Brazilian may feel it is time to find a new stage. Timing could be everything While there is no formal negotiation between the clubs yet, the trajectory of this story feels familiar. Player contact. Growing interest. A possible outgoing sale. It's a transfer with all the elements of modern football drama — high-value figures, elite institutions, and strategic timing. And should Liverpool pull it off, it may prove more than just a statement of ambition. It may be the moment their new era properly begins. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis If this is truly on the table, Liverpool fans should be buzzing. Rodrygo isn't just a flashy name — he's a top-tier European forward, and more importantly, one with a winning pedigree. He knows how to deliver on the biggest nights. That's not something you can easily teach. Yes, €100 million is steep. But with Díaz possibly heading out, that outlay becomes far more manageable — and frankly, Rodrygo looks like an upgrade in terms of consistency and tactical flexibility. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool will likely place more emphasis on possession and fluid movement, and Rodrygo fits that model better than Díaz ever did. Of course, Madrid won't let him go easily. But if there's even a sliver of willingness to talk, Liverpool must push. Rodrygo could be the cornerstone of a new Anfield front three. He's got the talent. He's got the pedigree. Now let's hope we've got the pull.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
☕🥐FC Breakfast: Gyök sends Arsenal dressing room buzzing, Yamal's best XI
🟣 Women's Euro: The Recap Yesterday's Result 9:00 PM: England 2-1 Italy Today's Schedule 9:00 PM: Germany - Spain (TF1) Gyökeres Already Stirring Up Arsenal's Locker Room 🧨 The announcement of the agreement between the Gunners and the Lisbon team for the acquisition of Viktor Gyökeres is already causing ripples in Arsenal's locker room. Yamal's Dream XI 🏅 Lamine Yamal has named his all-time favorite team. Tastes and colors are subjective, but... Sacha Boey's Viral Photo 📲 Sacha Boey (Bayern) is proud of his roots and he's letting everyone know. The French full-back from Bayern posed with his friends in his neighborhood in Montreuil. Enough to charm the internet users. The group photo posted last year already took the internet by storm. Here it is again! Yesterday's Must-Sees 🔍 - Crystal Palace takes the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against OL! - These 5 transfers disrupted by the anger of the fans - FC 26: EA announces gameplay innovations This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Will Patri Guijarro be the next Spain midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or?
When holding midfielder Patri Guijarro was asked to play in defence for the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea because Barcelona's regular centre-back Andrea Pereira was suspended, it was out of her comfort zone. But she was flawless and Barcelona won 4-0. And when Barca discovered that attacking midfielder Alexia Putellas was set to miss almost the entire 2022-23 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, their replacement in the transfer market was not an equivalent playmaker, but instead defensive midfielder Keira Walsh. Guijarro was asked to step forward into the role played by Putellas, the world's best player. She was up for the challenge. 'I watched a lot of videos of her to analyse how she moved and what she looked for in build-up play,' Guijarro said in No Nos Digas Que Es Imposible (Don't Tell Us It's Impossible), a new book about Barcelona by Maria Tikas. 'She's not a fast player, but she's very intelligent when it comes to finding space and looking forward.' When that season's Champions League final arrived, Guijarro was now established as a key attacking midfielder. Putellas had returned from injury, but she was not 100 per cent fit and had to be content with a place on the bench. Barcelona went 2-0 down to Wolfsburg, but Guijarro scored twice at the start of the second half to draw them level, before Fridolina Rolfo smashed in the winner. Guijarro, a starring centre-back in the equivalent fixture two years before, was named player of the match as an attacking midfielder. That sums up Guijarro; constantly sacrificing herself for the team and capable of playing almost any position. That is why she is such a good all-round holding midfielder, a position crucial to the possession play of both Barcelona and Spain. Traditionally, players in that role do not get the plaudits, especially when they are playing in the same midfield as Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, who have split the past four Ballon d'Or awards between them. But maybe that is starting to change. 'Patri is the foundation of the team,' said team-mate Vicky Lopez in a press conference before the semi-final against Germany. 'She's the one who drives the team forward, who makes us all play well and perform at our best. If you watch a match and focus only on Patri, you can't help but smile when you see her play. 'Playing with her is very easy and very difficult at the same time. There are passes that only she sees and you don't expect. You have to get used to her. She doesn't give easy passes. Her passes are almost always forward, with purpose. For me, playing with her is very nice. She's one of the best in the world and very underrated.' Last year, Spain won the men's European Championship with Rodri voted the player of the tournament and then, later in the year, winning the Ballon d'Or. Rodri symbolised the new Spain. On the one hand, he had all the typical qualities of a Spanish holding midfielder: comfortable in possession and intelligent in a positional sense. But he was also a more aggressive, offensive-minded player than his predecessors. He pushed up and pressed high. He pushed forward to offer a goalscoring threat. His team, in turn, were more direct than previous Spain sides. And all this can be said of Guijarro. Look at a touch map from her performances so far at this tournament and it is not what you expect of a holding midfielder. Most of her touches are well inside the opposition half, partly a reflection of Spain's dominance, but partly because she often takes advantage of being unmarked to push on. Guijarro's aggression means Spain are excellent at getting into good attacking situations immediately after being without possession. Take this move early on in the 5-2 win over Belgium. Not many holding midfielders would be closing down this high up the pitch. But after Guijarro helps to force a turnover, she simply keeps on running and gets on the end of this through ball from Mariona Caldentey. Five seconds after hopefully closing down an opponent, Spain's holding midfielder is playing a cutback from close to the byline. Away from the pitch, Guijarro is a sensitive, reliable figure. She was one of the first signings of Barcelona's professional women's era in 2015, although she was initially hesitant, as she wanted to finish high school in her native Mallorca. Eventually, an agreement was made that she could finish her studies at La Masia, becoming something of a revolutionary as the first female player to study at the club's academy. She was instantly respected in the dressing room and was named one of the side's captains at the age of just 21. Those who know her best describe her as loyal and caring, to the point of neglecting herself and her own interests in order to look after others. She conveys this same attitude to the team when she plays. 'Patri is one of the best people you could ever meet,' says one person close to the player, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect relationships. Guijarro is also Spain's dressing-room DJ. When Lopez was selected to start against Portugal in the team's opening Euro 2025 game, she knew what to play. 'Before the match, Patri played some dembow songs to motivate me,' Lopez told RTVE after the match (dembow is a music genre with roots in the Caribbean). On and off the pitch, she looks after her team-mates and sets the rhythm. If Spain feel like a more aggressive, attack-minded side than at the 2023 World Cup — getting the ball forward quicker and also pressing with more intensity — it is partly because of the return of Guijarro, who refused to play for Spain during that era. She has long been famous for fighting for women's footballers' rights. She feels deeply that she has to leave this sport in a better state than she found it, not only in terms of sporting success, but also off the pitch. And she has demonstrated this in everything she has done throughout her career. She and Barcelona team-mate Pereira were co-founders of FutPro, a union for female professional footballers in Spain, and she became a member of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) assembly. 'There had never been any FutPro players who voted for the president of the RFEF, and finally we were able to,' she said in an interview with newspaper El Mundo earlier this month. 'For us, voting was like women's suffrage in Spain in 1933.' Lawyer Amanda Gutierrez, FutPro's president, told The Athletic: 'Thanks to a change that FutPro is working on following the 'Se Acabo' ('It's Over') movement, we insist there should be female assembly members. There is now one female futsal player and six in Liga F. It is very important to be an assembly member because they are the ones who vote for the president and decide the president's salary. They have a say in what is decided. It is a way of being involved and knowing what is going on. It is a huge responsibility and Patri took it on.' In September 2022, 15 Spain players sent an email to the RFEF declaring themselves unavailable for selection and demanding what they considered basic conditions for professional footballers. Guijarro was among the hard-liners; as the months went by, more than half of the initial 15 agreed to return. But she refused, alongside — most notably — Barcelona team-mates Mapi Leon and Claudia Pina, as well as Lola Gallardo, Ainhoa Moraza, Nerea Eizagirre and Amaiur Sarriegi. Spain lifted the World Cup without her, with holding midfielder Teresa Abelleira performing well in that position. Guijarro is not a proud person. What happened has not prevented her from returning to the national team when she felt the changes they were asking for within the institution had been made. She eventually agreed to return ahead of the Olympics last summer, after the RFEF's clean-up, which involved dismissing president Luis Rubiales and coach Jorge Vilda. Centre-back Leon remains a significant absence from this side, but the return of Guijarro and Pina, as well as Lopez's evolution into a first-teamer, have made Spain more complete. Among wonderful contributions in the final third from the likes of Pina and Putellas, Guijarro has probably been Spain's most consistent player at the Euros. The moment that sums it up best is her goal against Italy: not just because she got herself on the scoresheet, but because of the nature of the goal. Latching onto a loose ball from an Italy clearance, she simply slammed it into the net. Spain have scored prettier goals at this tournament, but this was what Guijarro is all about. What other defensive midfielders would regard as a potential interception, she sees as a potential goal. From defence to attack, without pausing for breath. Guijarro finished a respectable 11th in the Ballon d'Or voting last year, although she was behind five Barcelona team-mates, and ultimately her role is generally considered to be about letting more attacking players shine. But her performances at Euro 2025 have been even more dominant than we've become accustomed to. In this form, she is a serious contender to be named the best player at this tournament, and maybe the best in the world. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Barcelona, Spain, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company