Barcelona’s preparations for the new season have been under the microscope, with Hansi Flick continuing to assess his squad and new arrivals settling into life at the club.
After a turbulent summer of speculation, Barca’s ability to register key signings before the La Liga campaign began has been a major talking point, ensuring that the Catalan giants are not left short of options as fixtures pile up.
The Catalans are also putting significant emphasis on developing young talent, with the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal expected to take centre stage in the coming months.
The excitement surrounding Lamine Yamal in particular continues to grow, with many supporters believing that he is already the crown jewel of Barca’s future.
Amidst all this, the arrival of a marquee signing from the Premier League was one of the standout moves of the transfer window.
It was not just about the sporting aspect, but also about the statement it made – Barcelona can still attract global stars, even from England’s elite.
And that signing was, of course, Marcus Rashford.
One of the most anticipated arrivals this summer at FC Barcelona was that of Rashford.
Despite his struggles in recent seasons, the Manchester United forward arrives with renewed motivation.
Moreover, the club has even managed to register him timely.
That allowed him to have his official debut for the team against RCD Mallorca recently, even if he did not get a lot of minutes.
Following that game, he recently gave an interview to SPORT and also spoke about some topics since his move to Barcelona.
As quoted by SPORT, he started things off by speaking about how he felt in the new city and at his new club:
“Very good. Everything is new and very good.
“I am still adapting, but yes, it is a beautiful city. I live my time here with great excitement.”
Then, he was asked to speak about Lamine Yamal and offer some insights regarding the 18-year-old superstar:
“He’s a top talent, a top player.
“The most surprising thing is how mature he is for his age. How he thinks and plays.
“He’s way ahead of his age. It’s exciting to play with him and with others, too.”
Rashford was also asked to voice his opinion on this year’s Ballon d’Or and whether or not Lamine Yamal could win it:
“Yes, for sure. If he doesn’t win it this year, he will in the future.
“Dembele, Raphinha, they all deserve it. It’s hard to pick one, but they’re all mature and had a fantastic season.
“Lamine is so young that surely he’ll win it.”
The English forward was then also asked to share what Yamal was like in person, as most people probably do not get to interact with him the way that Rashford has probably done so:
“As a person, he’s an 18-year-old kid, always joking, laughing, messing around with others.
“It’s motivating to be in a locker room with so many young players. It reminds me of when I was his age… And yes, he’s the most talented I’ve played with for his age.
“I haven’t played with or seen anyone else with the impact he has on the game.
“Maybe Ronaldo Nazario, ‘El Fenómeno’. To have that influence on the pitch at such a young age, and so consistently, is incredible.
“He has a long career ahead of him, and I hope he maintains his level and even improves.”
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