Zidane’s Shock Praise for Yamal: Barcelona’s Rising Star Stuns Inter

Zidane's Awe for Yamal

Zidane, the French legend and former Real Madrid icon, praised Lamine Yamal for what he produced against Inter Milan in last season's Champions League semifinal, telling RMC Sport that there is one player who excites him when he touches the ball: Lamine Yamal.

He noted that against Inter at San Siro the young forward delivered almost single‑handed, and he added that he had never seen anything like that in his life—the kind of display that makes a defender reconsider career choices. Yamal's breakout performances were part of a notable campaign that also saw him win the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best under‑21 player and finish as runner‑up in the Ballon d'Or race behind a French peer.

Yamal starred in the first leg of the semifinal, a 3‑3 draw, and contributed again in the return, which Barcelona lost 4‑3 but exited the competition with hands held high for the future. Zidane’s praise underscored a belief that the Barca talent represents a rare blend of technique, vision, and audacity that few can match at his age.

In his remarks to RMC Sport, Zidane said: "Beyond his role on the pitch, there is one player who genuinely excites me when he touches the ball: Lamine Yamal."

He followed that with another assessment: "Against Inter last season in the Champions League at San Siro, he did it all by himself. I have never seen anything like that in my life."

Elsewhere, Zidane also complimented Turkey's rising talent Kenan Yildiz from Juventus, calling him a constant threat who still needs some maturity to maximize his potential. The veteran coach emphasized that both players demonstrate the kind of quality that makes even seasoned veterans stand up and take notice.

Asked whom he would have liked to coach again from his golden era, Zidane replied with warmth about Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, and Karim Benzema, noting that coaching a squad filled with extraordinary players like those three, plus others such as Rodrygo, was an extraordinary experience.

Reflecting on his own peak moments, Zidane recalled the 2017 Champions League final comeback against Juventus as a turning point, describing the second‑half display as "mystical" and a reminder that football can reach sublime levels when team spirit and timing align.

Yamal Returns to Barça Training

Barça’s training session on Monday featured a positive touch as Lamine Yamal and Fermín López returned to work ahead of the derby with Girona. The squad began their day with recovery and light drills, with several international players absent for national duties.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the pair took part in the session, signaling a step closer to full fitness as Barça seek to balance recovery with performance ahead of key fixtures.

A Delicate Plan Before the Clasico

Barça’s plan for Yamal centers on a gradual return, involving a few minutes against Girona as a precursor to the Olympiakos clash in the Champions League. The coaching staff hope to reintroduce him without rushing the process, aiming to preserve his long‑term fitness while restoring his impact on the attack.

The medical team believes a cautious ramp‑up is the best approach to prevent setbacks and allow Yamal to regain sharpness as the season intensifies.

Reports indicate he could rejoin group training next Wednesday, a crucial test to determine his readiness for competitive matches and to gauge whether he can feature more regularly in the near term.

A Trio Back, A Squad Recharged

Recoveries are providing a much‑needed morale boost, with Fermín López and Rafinha also nearing a return to the first‑team fold for the Girona match. It is anticipated that the coach will hand them limited minutes to re‑acclimate to the tempo and intensity of top‑level football.

These updates have brought some relief to a squad that has faced injuries at inopportune moments since the season began, forcing tactical tweaks and squad rotation to cover gaps.

Meanwhile, the club remains cautious about several other absences, including key defender lines and goalkeeping depth. The goal is to reestablish balance and cohesion before the calendar’s major tests, ensuring the team can sustain momentum across La Liga and Europe.

Olmo Injury Adds to Barcelona’s Woes

On the downside, Dani Olmo suffered a calf injury and faces a window of three to four weeks out, ruling him out of the Clasico. Losing Olmo’s attacking versatility is a blow for Barça’s forward line, particularly his ability to create and improvise in tight spaces.

The absence of Olmo compounds the ongoing injuries to players like Gavi and Marco Ter Stegen, who are expected to miss more time, complicating the manager’s selections and forcing further rotation as the season progresses.

Flick’s Dilemma: Rest, Reactivation, or Risk?

Amid welcome returns and stubborn absences, Xavi’s successor, Xavi’s successor?—the coach, or the article’s framing, emphasizes the challenge of balancing short‑term gains with long‑term stability. The aim is to rebuild fitness without provoking new injuries and to ensure the squad remains competitive for Clasico and beyond.

With high‑stakes fixtures approaching, Barça is adopting a careful approach to reintegrating players, hoping to recapture momentum while preserving core components for the season’s tougher tests.

In summary, Barcelona faces a pivotal stretch: nurture Yamal’s reintroduction, manage a handful of returnees, and navigate ongoing injuries, all while keeping a crisp focus on league and European duties. It’s a delicate juggle, but if the stars align, the club could ride a very favorable wave into the autumn and winter fixtures.

Sniper punchline 1: If Yamal keeps threading passes like this, Inter won’t need a defender; they’ll just hire a magician to vanish the ball from the net every time he touches it.

Sniper punchline 2: They say great players make the game look easy; with Yamal, even the net seems to smile and say, “Next!”