Former Barcelona youth assistant coach Javier Saviola lavished praises on the rapid emergence of Lamine Yamal at Barca.
From his formative years at La Masia, the teenage sensation consistently showcased qualities that set him apart from his peers.
The former Blaugrana forward, who served as assistant coach for the club’s Juvenil A side, played a role in nurturing a crop of young talents: including Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Hector Fort.
Looking back, Saviola made it clear that Yamal’s brilliance was evident from the outset, especially in how he moved and influenced the game.
“We saw Lamine as different from the rest, for example, in the way he covered ground. When you see players like Messi, whom I had the chance to watch when I was 12-13, you realise it right away, because you’ve been involved in football for a long time,” he said.
“When such a young player shows something different, especially qualities that are rare at that age, you know there’s something special. And that’s what happened with Lamine.”
As momentum built around the youngster, the focus quickly shifted from ability to management: a crucial phase in any prodigy’s journey to the top level.
“We weren’t worried about his footballing ability, but rather how to manage him, because we knew that in the future he would have a great chance of making it into Barca’s first team.”
Meanwhile, the pipeline of talent extended beyond just one standout name. Saviola pointed to a broader generation that impressed during that period, while also highlighting the influence of former manager Xavi Hernandez in accelerating their progress.
“Alongside Yamal, there were also Hector Fort and two or three other players. It really was an exceptional process that even Xavi spotted straight away and asked us for references on him,” the Argentine stated.
“From then on, we started working with him, and we were very proud, because we managed to get five or six players into very important teams at such a young age.
“Seeing them succeed with the tools we tried to provide them with was a huge achievement. Honestly, it was an extraordinary job,” he explained.
Wrapping up the reflection, Yamal’s rise is not just a story of talent; it’s a testament to early recognition, careful development, and a system built to produce footballing excellence.
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