Teen sensations Lamine Yamal and Franco Mastantuono need space to develop, says David Trezeguet
Teen sensations Lamine Yamal and Franco Mastantuono need space to develop, says David Trezeguet
ASUNCION – Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and River Plate's Franco Mastantuono are dazzling fans at just 17, but must be allowed to develop without excessive pressure to reach their potential, former France striker David Trezeguet said on May 14.
'Yamal is a pure, unique talent, a player who has proven to be different from the rest. He grew up in Barcelona's academy, where the 'Lionel Messi' identity is very present, so these kids copy that format,' Trezeguet, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, told reporters.
Mastantuono, River Plate's attacking midfielder who is making waves in Argentina, is 'demonstrating all his qualities at a very young age', the Frenchman added.
Yamal is the youngest player to debut and score for Spain.
With Barcelona, he has already won the Spanish league, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. He also won the European Championship with Spain.
Trezeguet, a former River Plate player, where Mastantuono made his debut in January last year, emphasised that both players 'are great to watch' because of the way they play and the way they 'express their talent'.
'They'll have time to perfect everything else. They're young. But I think it's important for football in general to have this type of player who serves as an example for the younger players,' he said.
Juan Pablo Sorin, who played for both River Plate and Barcelona, said that he would like to see both players continue their development.
'I don't like comparisons, because I think it's like limiting the player who's emerging. It's the same thing that happened to Lamine and Leo (Messi),' the former Argentina defender told Reuters.
'It's true that the position is similar, but I think the characteristics are different, and I think each player has their own potential, qualities, and areas for improvement.'
Both Trezeguet and Sorin said River Plate fans should make the most of Mastantuono's time there as he would likely continue his career in Europe soon.
The Argentinian, who has been linked with Real Madrid, shone in River Plate's victory over Boca Juniors last month, scoring a free kick.
'We have to let them complete all the stages. They have to play, have fun, and continue to show off their talent and their audacity. They have a lot of personality,' Sorin said.
'What really catches my attention about both of them is how effective they are with the number of balls they touch. They make most of them effective, and that's impressive for their age.' REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
44 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Man United complete signing of Brazilian Cunha from Wolves
MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United completed the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, United announced on Thursday, with the Brazil forward joining on a five-year contract. United triggered Cunha's release clause, which was worth around 62.5 million pounds ($84.12 million), according to a source at the club. The Old Trafford side also have the option of extending his contract by a year. "It's hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player," Cunha said. "Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother's house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt. "I can't wait for the start of pre-season to get to know my teammates and prepare for the season ahead. All my focus is now on working hard to become a valuable part of the team, and helping get this club back to the top." The 26-year-old scored 33 goals and provided 15 assists in 92 appearances for Wolves, with 15 of those goals coming in the Premier League last season. Cunha helped Brazil qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, setting up the only goal in a decisive 1-0 win at home to Paraguay. The dynamic playmaker helped Brazil qualify for the 2026 World Cup when he provided the assist for Vinicius Junior's goal in their 1-0 win over Paraguay on Tuesday. "Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer, so we are delighted to have completed his signing so early in the window," said United's director of football Jason Wilcox. "He has proved his ability to succeed in the Premier League as one of the most exciting and productive forwards in England during his time at Wolves. "He has all the qualities we are looking for as we seek to build a strong, dynamic and entertaining team capable of challenging for the biggest honours." United finished 15th in the Premier League last season with 42 points. The transfer is a record sale for Wolves, eclipsing the 53 million pounds they received from Manchester City for midfielder Matheus Nunes in 2023. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Alexander-Arnold says signing for Real Madrid is dream come true
Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold described his move to Real Madrid as "a dream come true" in a speech he delivered in Spanish at his official presentation at the LaLiga club on Thursday. Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold left his boyhood last month in a tearful farewell after securing his second Premier League winner's medal, before joining Real on a six-year deal. According to British media reports, Real paid a fee in the region of 10 million pounds ($13.58 million) to sign the 26-year-old before his Liverpool contract ended on June 30, ensuring his availability for the Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13. "Thank you both to President Florentino Perez and to Real Madrid for this opportunity. Signing for a club like Real Madrid doesn't happen every day. It's a dream come true," he said. "I'm very happy and proud to be here. I'm really looking forward to showing my game to the Madrid fans. But I'm aware that playing for Real Madrid is a big responsibility. "I'm ready to give everything for the team and the fans. I can't wait to show my game, win many titles, become a champion, grow, and enjoy every moment alongside the best players in the world." Alexander-Arnold will wear the number 12 shirt at Real, as Spanish football regulations prohibit the use of his former Liverpool number, 66. He will display his first name, 'Trent', on his shirt, saying it is easier to understand for Spanish speakers. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Four-week break among recommended player safeguards as part of new soccer study
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group K - Andorra v England - RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat, Spain - June 7, 2025 England's Jude Bellingham shakes hands with the Andorra players before the match Action Images via Reuters/Albert Gea/File Photo REUTERS Four-week break among recommended player safeguards as part of new soccer study MANCHESTER, England - A four-week off-season break should be mandatory for professional soccer players, with two of those weeks to be a blackout period with no communication with club or national team, according to a new study. Seventy medical and performance experts agreed on 12 safeguards as part of the study released on Thursday by global players' union FIFPRO to protect players from calendar congestion and excessive workload. The safeguards include a minimum four-week retraining period after an off-season break before a return to competition. "Decoding the human body, performance, and sport-related injuries will be a lifelong scientific exercise for all of us," said Darren Burgess, chair of FIFPRO's High-Performance Advisory Network. "However, the results of this study show that there are certain minimum standards such as adequate rest between matches, and proper off-season breaks, that are common sense, aligned with scientific evidence and, above all, required by global occupational health and safety standards." The study's release comes days before the expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in the United States amid player welfare concerns after an exhausting European season. FIFPRO are calling for the immediate implementation of the safeguards which also include a minimum four-week retraining period after a close-season break before a return to competition, and travel fatigue management which would mean rest periods after long-haul flights. Players should also have a mandatory one-day off per week during the season and there should be a one-week mid-season break with no club or national team travel, training or media commitments. FIFPRO are also calling for specific workload safeguards for academy players under the age of 18. More than 75% agreement was required amongst participants to establish each recommendation. While some safeguards exist under the collective bargaining agreements of some countries, international football lacks standardized regulations, FIFPRO said. The study's Delphi methodological approach was an electronic survey conducted from February to March 2025, involving experts working in the performance or medical team in men's professional football. Seventy-three percent of the experts are employed by football clubs, with 27% working for national teams. "If we can all agree that health comes first, then we should take steps to implement these safeguards," said FIFPRO's Medical Director Vincent Gouttebarge. In October, FIFPRO, the European leagues' group and Spain's LaLiga filed a joint complaint to European Union antitrust regulators, accusing soccer's global governing body FIFA of "abuse," concerned about the impact of the expanding football calendar on player wellbeing. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
