As Barcelona gear up for a vital UEFA Champions League group stage conflict with Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi has tried to place the highlight on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Talking in his pre-match press convention, Hakimi admitted that he wouldn’t be the one marking Yamal straight however identified that PSG left-back Nuno Mendes shall be tasked with stopping him.
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“Lamine will not be on my aspect, however he shall be marked by one of the best left-back on the planet in Nuno Mendes,” Hakimi mentioned as quoted by .
“He’s able to stopping him, as he has carried out already, and as he has stopped different attackers with the identical model as Lamine up to now. He’s properly ready.”
What was he referring to?
Hakimi introduced up the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League last, when Mendes performed a key position in Portugal’s win over Spain.
Mendes managed to maintain Yamal quiet on that event whereas additionally scoring within the recreation. Hakimi, although, harassed that PSG’s power comes from teamwork fairly than people.
Lamine Yamal is match to play in opposition to PSG. (Picture by Judit Cartiel/Getty Photographs)
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“However the power of our staff is the assistance we offer to one another,” Hakimi added.
“We are going to attempt to help Nuno so he isn’t left one-on-one, as a result of we all know what Lamine can do in these conditions.”
Barcelona consider of their prodigy
Whereas Hakimi’s phrases had been clearly meant as a warning, they solely spotlight the rising concern Yamal is already inflicting amongst Europe’s elite defenders.
At simply 18, he has been carrying himself with the boldness of a seasoned skilled, and matches like this are the place .
In the meantime, in one other growth, it has additionally been confirmed that Hakimi will put on the captain’s armband for PSG within the absence of Marquinhos.
However for Barcelona, the main focus stays on their teenage prodigy, who now has the prospect to show this supposed problem into yet one more assertion efficiency on the highest stage.