'He saw me as a role model' - Inigo Martinez says he was a 'like a father' to Lamine Yamal at Barcelona

""I had a special relationship with Lamine, which was mutual from the very beginning. And it's true that he saw me as a role model, like a father in the locker room,""

""He arrived very young, and these kinds of locker rooms are usually complicated. But I don't think he's aware of the burden he's carrying, because at 18, he's a footballer who has to pull the team together. I hope he continues like this, because the day he realizes it, it will weigh on him.""

""The good thing about Lamine Yamal is that he's a kid who is focused and performs at a level that I've never seen at such a young age. And the difference between when he's on the pitch and when he's not is noticeable. He has people around him who keep a tight rein on him. But he's young and he'll make mistakes that everyone will talk about.""

Inigo Martinez spent two years at Barcelona alongside Lamine Yamal and left last summer after winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup under Hansi Flick. Martinez had a special, mutual relationship with Yamal, who regarded him as a locker-room father figure. Yamal arrived very young into a complicated squad environment and carries a significant burden as an 18-year-old expected to pull the team together. Martinez defended Yamal against criticism, noting Yamal's focus, exceptional performance for his age, visible impact when he plays, the presence of people who manage him, and the inevitability of mistakes. Yamal has returned to training and may be fit for Saturday's match against Girona.

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