Barcelona’s Rising Star Lamine Yamal Nearly Missed Chance to Join Club at Age 7

At the age of 7, an email changed the football career of Lamine Yamal, who was playing for the club of La Torreta. Without this email, he would not have joined the Blaugrana club at that time. Invited on Thursday to the Jijantes FC of journalist Gerard Romero, a former Barça trainer recounts this episode of the young talent’s life. Oscar Hernandez revealed that in January 2015 he sent an email to the Barça manager asking him to try out a particularly promising child as soon as possible. At the time, Espanyol Barcelona, Barça’s rival club in La Liga, was about to sign a partnership with the La Torreta club.

Following the trainer’s advice, Marc Serra contacted Lamine Yamal’s parents. The talent of the young boy seduced the trainer. Oscar Hernandez remembers his first steps within the Blaugrana club. "He came to try out at the training center and I went to see his last match. After five minutes, we could already see that he was a player who had to sign for Barça," he said again. Lamine joined the Blaugrana club and unleashed his immense talent.

At only 17 years old, Lamine has broken several records. By scoring a goal against Granada (2-2) in October 2023, he became at 16 years and 87 days the youngest goalscorer in La Liga, dethroning Fabrice Olinga, who scored at 16 years and 98 days in 2012 with Celta Vigo. In Porto, Lamine became, at 16 years and 83 days, the youngest starter in the Champions League, thus breaking the record held by Nigerian Celestine Babayaro, a starter at 16 years and 86 days with Anderlecht in 1994. Last year, he was named best young player of the Euro, and best passer with four contributions. After lifting the Euro by defeating England in the final (2-1), the young talent received the title of best goal of the tournament. He scored a goal in the semi-final between Spain and France, which will end the adventure of the Blues.