Lamine Yamal is no longer just a promise, he's a reality. At just 16 years old (16 años), the youth academy product has earned the respect of the locker room and the fans. In a Barça undergoing a full rebuild, he's been the ray of hope.
He's led matches, made a difference, and has shown that the jersey doesn't weigh on him. Despite his young age, he acts like a veteran, he's an undisputed starter and a key piece in the blaugrana line-up. For now, he hasn't had direct competition, no one has managed to overshadow him, until now.
The bet on the future
FC Barcelona has already made a move, Roony Bardghji, Copenhagen's winger, will be a new culé player. The deal has been closed for days and, according to Fabrizio Romano, only the final steps remain: documents and medical examination. Everything will be done after July 1, when the new financial year begins.
Barça has been smart. It has gotten ahead of Premier League clubs and secured one of the biggest prospects in European soccer. Bardghji isn't a minor signing, he has talent, hunger, and potential.
The best part is that he's not coming to go unnoticed. He's coming to compete for a spot.
Clash of titans: two youngsters for the same spot
Bardghji and Yamal have a similar profile, both are wingers with dribbling skills, vision, and scoring ability. They like to take on defenders, they don't hide, and they can decide matches. Naturally, they'll compete for a place in the starting eleven, the competition will be real.
Lamine has the advantage. He already knows the club, the locker room, and the system, but Bardghji won't back down. He's coming determined to carve out a place from day one.
He wants to play and he knows that to achieve it he'll have to earn every minute. This battle could be the engine that drives both of them. No one has a guaranteed spot.
Barça wins with this rivalry
Instead of fearing competition, Barça should celebrate it. Having two youngsters of Yamal and Bardghji's caliber in the same position is a top-level. In a long season, with the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa, rotation will be key.
Moreover, their competition could raise both of their levels. They'll push each other to improve, to never relax, to always perform at their best. It's a situation that benefits the team and strengthens the sporting project.
Joan Laporta and Deco want to build a Barça with talented youngsters. Lamine and Roony represent exactly that: future, ambition, and quality. One is already shining, the other is about to arrive.