The participation of Lamine Yamal in the upcoming U17 World Cup in November and December for Spain has been withdrawn, as per reports.
Ramon Salmurri, a journalist with Catalunya Ràdio, has reported on the existence of an agreement in principle between Barcelona and the RFEF (Spanish FA) that endorses Lamine Yamal’s exclusion from the U-17 World Cup.
Both the club and the Spanish association share the intent of safeguarding the teenager from additional match fixtures, given that the tournament is now deemed to be below Yamal’s level of performance.
Yamal’s integral role for Barcelona at the start of the season, coupled with his commitment to the senior national team, has led to cautionary measures regarding his participation in the U17 World Cup.
🚨 There’s an agreement in principle between Barça and the RFEF so that Lamine Yamal does NOT go to the U-17 World Cup in November/December. @rsalmurri pic.twitter.com/iKEgwBZcka
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) September 5, 2023
Barcelona and Spain are acting prudently, taking note of the case of Pedri, who has grappled with injuries recently. Some experts attribute these injuries to the extensive 2020–21 season, during which Pedri played 72 games for the club and country.
Lamine Yamal has rapidly emerged as one of La Liga’s brightest young talents, making a significant impact for FC Barcelona at the beginning of the current campaign. Yamal has featured in all four matches for FC Barcelona and played a pivotal role in their thrilling 4-3 victory over Villarreal last month, contributing two assists and earning the Man of the Match accolade.
Despite being just 16 years old, Yamal has already received recognition at the senior level. Spain’s national team manager, Luis de la Fuente, has called him up for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus, marking his debut in the senior squad.
Yamal has firmly committed to representing Spain internationally, despite also receiving an invitation from the Moroccan national team due to his father’s ties to Morocco.
Lamine Yamal joins Alejandro Balde for Golden Boy Award nominations
The emerging star of Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, has earned a nomination for the prestigious Golden Boy award, alongside another teenage prodigy from his club, Alejandro Balde.
These rising talents from FC Barcelona have already made their mark in European soccer, as evidenced by their inclusion in the top 100 rankings by Tuttosport, the organizers of the esteemed award.
Tuttosport employs a meticulous selection process, progressively narrowing down the list from 100 to 40 candidates and ultimately to 20. The final verdict rests with a panel of journalists hailing from various corners of the continent, who will determine the ultimate recipient of the Golden Boy award. Additionally, there’s the ‘Golden Boy Web’ award, determined by votes from the public.
At present, FC Barcelona stands out as a hotbed for young talents in Europe. The current squad boasts three former Golden Boy award winners: Gavi, who claimed the honor in 2022, Pedri, the 2021 recipient, and João Félix, who earned the title in 2019.
Lamine Yamal is named as one of the 100 players in contention to win the Golden Boy Award 🏆
The 16-year-old is the youngest player on the list 🤯 pic.twitter.com/B8lZpFfSxz
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 5, 2023
It will be intriguing to observe whether Barcelona can add yet another Golden Boy award to their collection, with Alejandro Balde being touted as one of the frontrunners. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham is another strong contender in the race.
The Golden Boy Award, established in 2003, is bestowed upon the most outstanding players under 21 years old in Europe. Over the years, the prestigious accolade has been claimed by illustrious names such as Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, cementing its status as a symbol of emerging football excellence.
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