BARCELONA
Yamal becomes youngest Barcelona debutant: whose record did he break?
Fifteen-year-old forward Lamine Yamal made Barcelona history when he came on as a second-half substitute against Real Betis on Saturday.
Teenager Lamine Yamal became the youngest debutant in Barcelona’s history during the Blaugrana’s 4-0 LaLiga win over Real Betis on Saturday.
Yamal breaks Martínez’s 82-year-old Barça record
Aged 15 years and nine months, Yamal was brought on as a substitute in the 83rd minute at the Camp Nou, replacing fellow Barça youth product Gavi. The forward broke a club record that had lasted since 1941, when Vicenç Martínez was given his debut for the Catalans at the age of 16 years and 10 months.
Born in Catalonia to a Guinean mother and a Moroccan father, Yamal is one of the brightest prospects to emerge from Barça’s academy in recent years. The club are preparing to tie the Spain Under-17 international down to his first professional contract this summer. He recently changed agent, replacing former Barça player Iván de la Peña with renowned Portuguese representative Jorge Mendes.
Punishment response leads to first-team training recall
In March, Yamal was at the centre of an episode of indiscipline on Spain Under-17 duty, leading the Spanish Football Federation to leave him out of the team’s squad for a youth tournament. Barça also punished Yamal, who chiefly plays for the LaLiga giants’ Under-19s, by suspending him for a number of games.
However, the club was impressed by Yamal’s positive reaction to his punishment, prompting Barça boss Xavi Hernández to include him in first-team training this month. The player, who can operate on the wing or at centre-forward, had also featured in senior sessions before being disciplined.