JEWEL
Xavi calls up 15-year-old talented teenager Lamine Yamal to train with Barcelona first-team, who was dubbed the ‘mini-Messi’
Barcelona could have another jewel on their hands in 15-year-old Lamine Yamal, who is training with Barcelona's first-team.
The Catalan giants have given plenty of youngsters the chance to shine over the years.
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Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Ansu Fati have gone on to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
Yamal now looks to be next in line, and is understood to have already impressed Barca boss Xavi, who is 'in love' with his footballing ability.
He has also been dubbed the 'mini-Messi' by the Spanish press due to the similarities in their style of play.
Several players turning out for Juvenil A, Barca's Under 19 side managed by Oscar Lopez, have been training with the first-team of late.
Ander Astralaga (18), Biel Vicens (18), Arnau Casas (18), Joan Anaya (17), Fabian Luzzi (18), Derek Cuevas (18), Martin Georgiev (16), Toni Caravaca (18) and Niko Takahashi (17), have all been rubbing shoulders with Xavi's senior stars.
Yamal just 15 and of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent, is also part of the group.
Born in 2007 in Mataro, a town outside of Barcelona in Catalonia, the forward, who has a sweet left foot, belies his tender years due to his incredible ability to dribble and take on defenders.
Video footage has emerged of the versatile starlet, who can operate on the right or through the middle, playing in Barca's La Masia youth academy and Spain's youth teams.
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Yamal is already featuring at a higher age category than he should be. Normally players his age would be turning out for Cadet A - Barca's Under 16 side.
However, he's sharing the pitch with players four years older than them and impressing.
Club chiefs already believe he is going down the same route as Fati, one of their famed academy graduates.
Other clubs are understood to be keen on the youngster, but Barca are set to ensure Yamal's future is in Catalonia.
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