“Never seen such talent before” — Lewandowski praises young Yamal
Across a professional career spanning two decades with Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski has played alongside countless young prospects. Yet, the Polish striker insists he has “never seen such talent” as Lamine Yamal. From the very first training session, he knew the youngster was extraordinary.
At such a young age, Yamal has already become an important figure for both Barcelona and Spain. But Lewandowski believes the road ahead will bring big challenges for the teenage star.
The veteran striker, who is set to play his 150th match for Barcelona this Sunday against Valencia in La Liga, spoke about many topics in a recent interview with The Times. Among them was his first impression of Yamal.
“In my first training session here, Lamine was 15 years old. It was towards the end of the season and some players were trying to prove themselves. Lamine was playing against an experienced left-back, and he was doing whatever he wanted. I have seen many good players who needed time at the beginning, but he didn’t. At that age, I had never seen such talent.”
Yamal has drawn similar praise from others since last season. He played a vital role in Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign and was just as influential in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. Before picking up an injury, the 18-year-old winger was also in outstanding form this season.
Looking ahead, Lewandowski believes the biggest challenge for Yamal will be maintaining his hunger and focus over time.
“His challenge will be to still be hungry in three years or more. But meeting expectations and handling social media could be difficult for him. Now there are far more matches, and the intensity is very high. I have my doubts about whether someone who starts at the top level at 16 can last for 20 years.”
