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La Liga | Gameweek 30
Apr 23, 2023 at 3.15pm UK
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Lamine Yamal, 15, named in Barcelona squad for Atletico Madrid game

Lamine Yamal, 15, named in Barcelona squad for Atletico game
© Reuters
Barcelona head coach Xavi names 15-year-old Lamine Yamal in his squad for Sunday's La Liga contest with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona boss Xavi has named 15-year-old Lamine Yamal in his squad for Sunday afternoon's La Liga contest with Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou.

The left-footed attacker has been with Barcelona since the age of five, progressing through the various youth sides at the club, while he has also already been capped at Under-19 level by Spain.

Yamal will be a part of the squad that takes on Atletico on Sunday, and he could become Barcelona's youngest player of all time if he is introduced against Diego Simeone's side.

The forward would be 15 years and 285 days old if he featured at Camp Nou, which would break the record that was set by Armand Martinez Sagi in April 1922.

Barcelona manager Xavi pictured in September 2022© Reuters

During his press conference on Saturday afternoon, Xavi was full of praise for the La Masia academy product, insisting that he is already capable of helping the first team.

"We are trying to give the youngsters a chance and he is a player who can help us and has great talent. He is young, with character, and is strong in 1v1s. He's a player who can shape an era with the team, he's not afraid of being called up. He might help us," said the head coach.

There is currently uncertainty surrounding Yamal's long-term future at the club, though, as he is yet to sign a professional contract at Camp Nou.

"His contract? We'll focus on the present. I am very happy with what I saw in training from him, and that's why I called him up. The idea that his contract is about to expire is not related to him being called up.

A general shot of Barcelona's Camp Nou taken in June 2020© Reuters

"The youngsters are not afraid at all. When I look at Lamine, I see an enormous level of self-confidence.

"Just as Pedri has [Andres] Iniesta's qualities, Lamine is different, too. He has things from several footballers and has an innate talent. I don't find him resembling anyone in particular."

Yamal is believed to have started training with the first team at the end of last year, and his form on the training field has convinced Xavi to hand him a chance in the senior squad.

Barcelona have also welcomed Pedri and Frenkie de Jong back into the squad, with the pair recovering from hamstring issues.

Ousmane Dembele, Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto are all absent through injury, but Dembele and Christensen are closing in on returns to action.

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Written by
Matt Law
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Mallorca199371921-230
6Villarreal177642928127
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Osasuna186752327-425
10Celta Vigo187382728-124
11Real BetisBetis176652021-124
12Sevilla176471823-522
13Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe183781115-416
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512
20Valencia162591424-1011


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