Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has compared teenage winger Lamine Yamal to artistic geniuses Salvador Dalí and Michelangelo, urging the public not to compare him to Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona. Speaking on the eve of Spain's second World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, De la Fuente said Yamal, 18, possesses exceptional footballing maturity and handles the spotlight with naturalness.
De la Fuente: Yamal is a genius
“Those are big names,” De la Fuente said when asked about comparisons to Messi and Maradona. “The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is in the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us, isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.”
Yamal fit to start against Saudi Arabia
De la Fuente confirmed that Yamal is fit to start against Saudi Arabia after making a 20-minute substitute appearance in Spain's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. However, he does not expect the winger to play the full match, suggesting he could get “55, 58 or 63 minutes” depending on the game's flow. Yamal had been recovering from an injury suffered in April, and his availability has dominated buildup to the tournament.
“That he is at the point where we have to stop him, hold him back; he has to do the things he has to do at this stage in the process,” De la Fuente said when asked what “he’s back” meant. “He enjoys playing so much. We see him train and it’s a joy: the way he is, the way he competes, the spirit and sharpness he has. The best news of all is that he is available and in a good moment.”
De la Fuente on media attention
De la Fuente also dismissed concerns that the intense focus on Yamal could disrupt team harmony. “That’s because the atmosphere inside is very healthy, very natural,” he said. “We know the human qualities of everyone in this group. We are waiting for Lamine because that’s the way it is. He’s important. We celebrated the expectation there is [around him], because he is with us. We understand his role perfectly, and so do his teammates. Day to day, they are all the same, all equal.”
Guidance for young talent
The coach emphasized the need to guide Yamal without invading his space. “We should help him as best we can on this journey: that would be good for Spanish football and the Spanish national team. Those of us who are parents know that you accompany [your children], guide them, but without invading their space. I am a coach but I am also someone who forms people. When you’re so young, when you’re 18, you still need advice. You can’t talk to them like you do to Jesús Navas. He is intelligent and accepts it. He protects himself from the media, as he should.”
