Former Spain boss says Lamine Yamal ‘won’t last long’ unless he makes changes in his personal life
One former Spain boss says Yamal needs to knuckle down
Former Spain boss Javier Clemente has predicted Lamine Yamal “won’t last long” unless he can rid himself of the controversies that continue to follow the Barcelona star.
Yamal is currently back in Catalonia having been withdrawn from the Spain squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey after being at the centre of a communications breakdown between Barca and the Spanish Football Federation.
It is another unwanted headline for the winger, who has to deal with scrutiny over his private life that reached fever pitch over the summer when Yamal hired dwarves as entertainment at his 18th birthday bash.
Clemente, who took charge of the national team between 1992 and 1998 as part of a nomadic managerial career, told the ‘Què T’hi Jugues’ programme on Cadena SER: “As a player he is very good, but the problem is that if in his personal life he does not behave correctly as an athlete, he will not last long. That’s clear.”
Opponents have started to work Yamal out
Clemente also suggested opponents are starting to work out how Yamal plays, a somewhat dubious claim given he has eight goal involvements in eight La Liga games this season.
“He does brilliant things, but the opponents already know how he plays, they know how to stop him,” added the 75-year-old. “They know that he is one of the players who should not be allowed to play because he has such quality that he can do many things. He will encounter specific marking and surveillance.”
The situation regarding Yamal’s withdrawal from the Spain camp has overshadowed the build up to the first of two big games for Luis de la Fuente’s men.
If that scenario does not play out, then Spain can also advance by beating Turkey in Seville on Tuesday.