FC Barcelona has made a decision on whether to award teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal with its iconic … More
FC Barcelona has made a decision on whether to award teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal with its iconic number 10 shirt according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources.
The jersey is one of the heaviest in soccer, after previously being donned by the likes of generational greats and club icons such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
In 2021, the number 10 was handed to Ansu Fati, who at the time was the Lamine of his generation that smashed a number of youngest goalscoring and appearance maker records at club and country level.
Thanks to a string of cruel injuries and setbacks, however, Ansu couldn’t live up to the demands of such as responsibility. In past years, there were reports that figures such as Vitor Roque could be given it, though likewise the Brazilian struggled in Catalonia and has since been offloaded to Palmeiras forcing a return to his homeland.
It’s no surprise that Golden Boy and Euro 2024 winner Lamine has been reported to take the 10 off Fati more than once.
As they are friends off the pitch and hang in the same circles with Alejandro Balde, however, Lamine apparently believes that the 10 belongs to Fati and should remain so out of respect.
With Fati most probably on his way out of the club on loan to Monaco in the coming days, however, the ultimate decision is not in Lamine’s hands and has been made by Barca according to Mundo Deportivo.
While next week Barca will launch its new shirt, it will wait until Lamine turns 18 on Sunday July 13 to give him the number 10 as he switches from the 19 similarly once worn by Messi.
If this landmark changing of the guard comes to pass, the ‘Lamine 10’ jersey is certain to become a top seller among Culers and soccer fans in general.
Comparisons between FC Barcelona legend Messi and Lamine will only increase
Measured up against one another ever since Lamine made his professional debut at the age of 15, in no small part because of them both being left-footed La Masia products, comparisons will only increase between FC Barcelona idol Messi and the Spain international if the latter is handed Messi’s old number 10 shirt.
