CORNERFLICK
Luis Figo has praised Lamine Yamal before El Clasico, saying the Barcelona winger is so difficult to stop that he might have had to change position if they had played together.
Figo's warning on Yamal
Speaking on Figosofadas, the former Portugal star said: “If I were from Lamine Yamal’s generation, maybe I would have had to change my position! Marking him all over the pitch is madness!”
Figo, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2000, spent much of his career on the wing and built his reputation on dribbling, technique and beating defenders.
Why Yamal draws so much attention
Yamal has become one of Barcelona’s leading young players in recent seasons through his one-v-one dribbling, quick changes of direction, chance creation and influence in the final third.
Figo also said man-marking him would be difficult because Yamal can use his movement and quick decision-making in several areas of the pitch to disrupt an opponent’s defensive shape. The comments have come as attention builds again towards Barcelona’s meeting with Real Madrid, where young stars such as Yamal could shape the result.