La Liga icon delivers warning to Barcelona star – ‘Have seen great players go through a very tough time’
Legendary Spanish goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has offered a thoughtful and timely warning to Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, stressing that the teenager is now entering what could be the most demanding period of his young career.
Speaking shortly after Barcelona lifted the Spanish Super Cup, the former Valencia and Spain goalkeeper made it clear that talent alone will not be enough from this point forward.
Canizares shared his views while appearing on El Partidazo on Cadena COPE (h/t MARCA), where he reflected on the pressure that comes with early success.
“I think Lamine Yamal is in the most difficult year of his career, because it’s the year of confirmation.
“He has to confirm everything he did last year, which is very difficult because he shone at a very high level, and it’s a year of profound changes, socially, economically, in terms of… A new life, really,” Canizares explained.
Other side of fame
The former goalkeeper then expanded on what he meant by a “new life”, making it clear that fame brings complications that young players are rarely prepared for.
“The contracts, the publicity… Dealing in some way with a lot of circumstances and things that surround him, events, here, this, that, and so on.”
Canizares has warned Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Canizares believes that these distractions often arrive suddenly and can unsettle even the most gifted players.
For him, the age of 18 is particularly delicate, as footballers are still growing emotionally while being treated like global stars. Reinforcing his point, he stated,
“Lamine Yamal is in a year of absolute change, and for me, at that age, it’s the most difficult year… the most difficult.”
Speaking from experience
Drawing from his own experience at the top level, the former Spain international explained that many elite players have struggled during this exact phase of their careers.
“I’ve seen great players go through a very tough time in that year, where everything is different and where your personal life has changed, because society doesn’t allow you not to change, right?
“’I’m still the same.’ No, you can’t stay the same; you can’t go have a beer here anymore, or go have a Coca-Cola there, or walk the dog in the park,” he concluded.
