Over the past year or so, Lamine Yamal has enjoyed a meteoric rise in stature.
From being an unknown quantity outside of La Masia, Yamal is now the face of FC Barcelona, one of the biggest sporting institutions across the globe, as well as the Spanish national team. All at the tender age of 17 years old.
The teenager is the frontrunner to win the Golden Boy Award for 2022, has been nominated for the Kopa Trophy and the Ballon d’Or, and recently even made it to the cover of France Football magazine.
More recently, Lamine Yamal also signed up with Gerard Pique’s Kings League and featured in the promotional ad for the new campaign.
Concerns at Barcelona about Yamal’s rising fame
Now, according to MARCA, there are some within the Barcelona offices who are concerned about the ‘excessive prominence’ surrounding Lamine Yamal at such an early stage in his career.
A key point of concern is the unease surrounding Yamal’s heightened visibility, with there being a feeling that the 17-year-old might not be in total control of the situation. There are reportedly individuals within Barcelona who fear the situation may spiral out of control.
The issue spans both sporting and non-sporting domains. In less than a year, the La Masia graduate has experienced an unprecedented rise in fame and stardom, prompting vigilance from parties both within and outside the club.
The change in Yamal’s representation is also seen as a factor. The switch from Ivan de la Pena to Jorge Mendes (in collaboration with Barcelona) is said to have shifted the dynamics, with some believing De la Pena would have provided better oversight of the situation.
There is simply no denying the quality and the potential that Yamal possesses, and it is now up to him and those surrounding him to ensure that he keeps his feet grounded and remains focused.
