Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal on LaLiga title: ‘Only the start’

Lamine Yamal stated successful extra is all he has on his thoughts after serving to Barcelona seal the LaLiga title on Thursday to finish a home treble.

Yamal, 17, scored the opening the aim, an excellent left-footed strike from outdoors the field, as Barça beat metropolis rivals Espanyol 2-0 to maneuver seven factors away from Actual Madrid with simply two video games to play.

Barça had already received the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa this season, beating Madrid in each finals, with the league making it three trophies in coach Hansi Flick’s first yr on the membership.

“It is a dream come true,” Yamal instructed ESPN after successful his second league title with the membership, having additionally featured within the 2022-23 success as a 15-year-old.

“Successful LaLiga with Barça is unbelievable, however that is just the start of what we wish to obtain. The message to supporters is that is simply getting began.

“It is unimaginable to tire of successful. I’ve it completely on my thoughts.”

Yamal will solely flip 18 in July however is already build up a formidable assortment of silverware.

Along with the 4 trophies he is received with Barça, he additionally received the European Championship with Spain final summer time, with the Champions League and the World Cup the one main silverware lacking.

With 17 objectives and 25 assists this season, his performances have drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Ronaldinho, however he is centered on writing his personal story.

“The target is to realize my very own success,” he added. “I wish to be myself, write my very own story and be my very own participant.

“I do not have a look at different gamers. In fact I might like to have that degree of success, Messi is unbelievable, for me the best ever, however I wish to have my very own profession.”

In a separate interview, Yamal additionally paid tribute to former coach Xavi Hernández, who was changed by Flick final summer time however solely after handing {the teenager}, in addition to 18-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsí, their debuts.

“We’re actually grateful to Xavi as a result of with out him, none of this could have occurred,” Yamal instructed Barça One.

“He is the one which handed debuts to so many younger gamers and we wish to thank him for that.”

Barça president Joan Laporta, in the meantime, stated Yamal is likely one of the chosen ones after his position on this season’s success.

“He is one of many chosen few who could have a very distinctive profession on this sport, assigned solely to the perfect gamers ever,” Laporta instructed reporters.

“He has an innate expertise. He is joyful at Barça and has a mission which revolves round him, like Ronaldinho and Messi earlier than him. He is surrounded by nice gamers.”

Laporta additionally confirmed an settlement is in place for Flick to increase his contract on the membership.

The coach’s present deal expires in 2026, however sources have instructed ESPN he’ll pen new phrases which is able to maintain him within the position till not less than 2027.

“A big proportion of the success is all the way down to him,” Laporta added of Flick. “He is so excited by the mission we’ve got right here.

“A couple of months in the past there was a free settlement. He’ll keep. [Sporting director] Deco is placing it collectively and it will likely be introduced quickly. He needs to go yr by yr.”

Barça’s title celebrations spilled into Friday morning after the win at Espanyol, with the gamers greeted by hundreds of followers and fireworks after they returned to the coaching floor properly after midnight.

Later, midfielder Marc Casadó was noticed becoming a member of in celebrations with followers within the metropolis centre, whereas Dani Olmo, Iñigo Martínez, Pedri and Eric García hopped on rental bicycles to go and have a good time the title with Ferran Torres in hospital.

Torres, who has scored 19 objectives this season, missed the Espanyol sport as he stays hospitalised after having an appendectomy.

The celebration will proceed on Friday, with an open-top bus parade scheduled to happen to mark the three trophies received this yr.

Barcelona legend Jordi Alba, now with Inter Miami CF, praised Flick for his work with the younger gamers and singled out Yamal’s accomplishments.

“When Lamine debuted with me at 15 in opposition to Betis if I keep in mind appropriately, he was a differential participant,” Alba stated on Friday. “He is modified rather a lot within the two years since, he is an excellent participant. He is on the quick listing to win the Ballon d’Or at solely that age. He is enhancing, studying, listening to the individuals round him. I hope he does properly.”