No pressure
In a corner dedicated to La Masia on the second floor of the Barcelona store at Camp Nou, Lamine Yamal is surrounded by shirts hanging on racks bearing his name and new shirt number.
It's no ordinary number. Lamine Yamal holds the No. 10 shirt he will wear from now on, right after signing his contract extension with Barca until 2031, with his family and close friends.
“This has been a dream since I was a child. My family and I are very happy. Barca has been my whole life, since I arrived here at the age of 7. For the kids at La Masia, being in the first team is a dream. I am doing it,” the 18-year-old shared.
He calmly posed for the media, showing off his new jersey with a legendary number, history and great names.
Leo Messi , Ronaldinho and Diego Maradona have worn this shirt number before him.
“I try to continue that legacy. They are three legends of football and of the club. Every kid dreams of having something like them,” he said with a smile.
Even though he stands behind great monuments, he does not feel pressured by such a great legacy.
“Messi has gone his way, I will go mine. Number 10 comes from Ansu Fati. I will work hard, give everything and bring joy to the fans” .
Yamal wants to continue doing that “for many years to come” . Both in the Champions League with Barca, as well as at the World Cup with Spain.
Just before posing for photos surrounded by fans chanting his name outside the store, the official contract signing ceremony took place.
A few metres away, at the Camp Nou offices, Yamal, dressed in a grey suit, posed for a photo with Joan Laporta and the entire Barca sporting board.
In addition to his friends and cousins, his parents – Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana – were also present, but especially his grandmother Fatima. He held her hand as they entered, and together they climbed the stairs.
“The ceremony was postponed because my grandmother was in Morocco at the time. Without her, I couldn’t have done something special like this. I don’t think she would have understood much about it. But I have to thank her for everything she has done for me, even though I will never be able to repay her,” he confided.
New Journey
Lamine Yamal signed for Barcelona at the end of May, with his parents by his side, but without his grandmother.
A legendary contract: 15 million euros per year (after tax), triple the salary that automatically renews when he turns 18. This figure can go up to 20 million euros depending on performance.
“It means I will continue playing for the club of my life. I don’t have any pressure. Now it’s time to enjoy myself with a new shirt number, but with the same goal,” he said, adding that he was “grateful to Barca” for their trust.
“This is a big step forward, the beginning of a journey that I hope will be long and full of victories.”
Yamal's contract only officially came into effect last Sunday (July 13), when he turned 18 and after a controversial birthday party.
“At the end of the day I work and play for Barca, but when I leave the training centre I enjoy my life,” he said shortly after the controversy surrounding his birthday party in recent days.
“I don't care about compliments or criticism unless they come from people who are really close to me. I just focus on football and enjoy it,” Yamal said frankly.
“Go to bed early, there are two training sessions tomorrow,” Hansi Flick told him. Lamine left in a black van, as if nothing had happened, as if no burden had been placed on his shoulders.
Barcelona put their faith in him, just as they did with Messi. Lamine Yamal seemed undeterred in switching from the number 19 shirt to the legendary number 10 at the Nou Camp.
Yamal felt like it was just an ordinary shirt. Now he wanted to make it his own “property”.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lamine-yamal-ra-mat-ao-so-10-o-barca-theo-buoc-sieu-nhan-messi-2422629.html
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