Lamine Yamal to wear Barcelona's iconic No. 10 jersey next season
'I'll try to build my own path, but all kids would like to be like them,' Yamal said Wednesday at the club's announcement. 'All three have been incredible players, they're legends, and I'll try to follow in their footsteps.'
Having turned 18, Yamal was able to sign the
contract extension
that he had agreed with Barcelona in May, keeping him in place until 2031.
'My goal is to keep winning and growing,' Yamal said. 'It's the club of my life. It's my home, I've been here since I was 7 years old.'
Yamal wore the No. 19 jersey last season. The No. 10 most recently was with Ansu Fati, who will
play on loan
with Monaco.
Yamal, accompanied by his family, received the No. 10 jersey from club president Joan Laporta.
The announcement comes after Yamal
was criticized
for reportedly hiring people with dwarfism as entertainers during his lavish 18th birthday party last weekend.
Yamal sidestepped the controversy on Wednesday.
'In the end I work for Barça, but when I'm away from the club's training center, I enjoy my life and that's it,' Yamal said. 'I'm indifferent to both criticism and praise if they don't come from my family or people close to me.'
___
AP soccer:
https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
15 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Scottie Scheffler wins the British Open for his second major title this year and the third leg of the career Grand Slam
Associated Press PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Scottie Scheffler wins the British Open for his second major title this year and the third leg of the career Grand Slam. recommended Item 1 of 2 in this topic
Fox Sports
15 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Astros place 3rd baseman Paredes on 10-day IL with right hamstring strain
Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right hamstring strain. Paredes was injured running to first base on a single to left field during Saturday night's 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners. Paredes left the game and was replaced by Zack Short. The 26-year-old is hitting .259 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs this season. Additionally, catcher Cesar Salazar was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land. In corresponding moves, infielders Shay Whitcomb and Jon Singleton were recalled from Sugar Land. To make room for Singleton on the Astros' 40-man roster, infielder Brendan Rodgers was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Rodgers sustained a concussion and a broken nose when he collided with a teammate during a minor league rehab assignment, the team said Saturday. The 28-year-old Rodgers was playing for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday in the first game of his rehab assignment when the collision occurred in the third inning. He had been sidelined since June 15 with a left oblique strain. Rodgers is batting .191 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 43 games for Houston this season. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 1
Fox Sports
15 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Marcus Smart will sign with the Lakers after getting a buyout from Wizards, AP source says
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Veteran guard Marcus Smart will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after receiving a contract buyout from the Washington Wizards, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Wizards had yet to announce their buyout of Smart. The standout defender and two-way contributor excelled for the rival Boston Celtics for nine seasons before spending the past two years with Memphis and Washington. Smart will get a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers to join their supporting cast around Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Los Angeles filled its biggest offseason need earlier this month by signing center Deandre Ayton. Smart was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 for the Celtics, who reached the NBA Finals that season and made nine consecutive playoff appearances during his tenure. He is a three-time member of the All-Defense first team, and he was a regular starter for Boston in his final half-decade with the team before he was traded to the Grizzlies in 2023. Because of injuries, the 6-foot-3 Smart has played in just 54 games over the past two seasons since leaving Boston, and he averaged just 20 minutes per game last season when healthy. He played in only 15 games after joining the Wizards last February as part of a three-team trade involving Jake LaRavia, who signed with the Lakers in free agency this month. Smart has never averaged more than 13.1 points per game while playing in more than half of his team's games in a season, but the Lakers undoubtedly covet his defensive contributions to a roster already featuring strong scorers. Smart will have ample opportunity to play a significant role for the Lakers, who needed another strong point-of-attack defender after losing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets in free agency. Smart, Ayton and LaRavia are the major offseason additions to the Lakers, who lost in the first round to Minnesota last spring after their seismic midseason trade to acquire Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles has managed to keep its core intact apart from Finney-Smith, even resigning backup center Jaxson Hayes. James picked up his $52.6 million player option to return for his record 23rd NBA season, but agent Rich Paul has been vocal about James' desire for the Lakers to be a serious championship contender in the upcoming season. ___ AP NBA: recommended Item 1 of 3
