Erling Haaland, the most sought-after forward in the world, hasn't held back when expressing on social media the admiration he feels for Lamine Yamal.
"This kid is unbelievable," he exclaimed while enjoying his goal and his crossbar in the first leg of the semifinals that Barça and Inter played tonight.
Barça Enchants the World: Haaland Surrenders to Lamine Yamal's Talent and Revives Transfer Rumors
Haaland Falls for Lamine Yamal's Play
FC Barcelona has once again captured the attention of the soccer world with their thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semifinals.
One of the standout performances of the Barça-Inter match was Lamine Yamal in his hundredth game with the first team. He dazzled with a goal, two shots off the post, three dribbles, four shots (two on target), two chances created, nine crosses into the box, and an assist to Raphinha without needing to touch the ball.
His performance was so dominant that it frustrated his marker Federico Dimarco and forced other Inter players like Bastoni, Acerbi, and Mkhitaryan to constantly support him.
Among the many impressed by Yamal's performance is Erling Haaland, Manchester City's forward. The Norwegian publicly expressed his admiration through Snapchat, highlighting an almost impossible play where Yamal nearly scored after a brilliant slalom.
Haaland Takes Steps Toward Barça
This gesture from Haaland has revived rumors about his possible interest in signing for Barça. The Norwegian forward renewed his contract with Manchester City until 2034 and dismissed his father's statements about his career in the major European leagues.
However, Haaland's admiration for Barça's play style and his recognition of young talents like Yamal could influence his future decisions. The Catalan club, under the direction of Hansi Flick and the management of Joan Laporta, has rejuvenated its squad and regained the style that led it to dominate Europe in the last decade.
In Haaland's eyes, Barcelona is the perfect place to exploit his skills as a scorer in a system that enhances his strengths and allows him to be the attacking reference.
Barça, with its combination of young talents and an attractive play style, continues to be a benchmark in world soccer, attracting the attention and admiration of elite players like Haaland.