Andres Iniesta Praises Young Football Talent and Reflects on Barcelona

Former Barcelona midfield maestro, Andres Iniesta, recently lauded the exceptional talent of young footballer Lamine Yamal, describing his performance at just 16 years old as ‘simply unnatural.’

Iniesta, during a visit to Llivia, Girona, engaged with youths partaking in his summer camp and also revealed plans to organize the Iniesta Cup, a budding youth football tournament scheduled for December in Albacete.

Reflecting on Xavi‘s departure from Barcelona, Iniesta acknowledged the difficulty of witnessing his close friend go through a challenging phase, expressing personal distress during that period.

‘When things don’t go well, you suffer; if a former teammate and friend faces it, you suffer even more,’ Iniesta shared.

Despite the challenges, Iniesta expressed a desire to return to Barcelona in the future, with coaching being his likely next career move, illustrating his enduring love for the game.

Regarding young talents Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Iniesta showered praise on both players, remarking on their exceptional performances that have captured attention.

‘It’s unnatural, but these are exceptions that come along. He’s one of those players with talent above the norm,’ Iniesta said of Yamal, emphasizing the need for the youngster to keep learning and evolving.

In discussing Real Madrid and the interest in Kylian Mbappe, Iniesta cautioned against fixating on Madrid’s strength, suggesting Barcelona focus on their own growth and development instead.