“Espanyol had given him a test”

A 7-year-old child can make a decision for himself that ends up leading him to the football elite. In the case of Lamine Yamalof course yes. The story goes back to February 2014 and is told to us by Rafael Rodríguez, former president of la Torreta, in the first episode of ‘Forjados’, a mini documentary series by MARCA presented by Javier Mancebo on the origins of several footballers from our national team which premieres days before the start of the World soccer.

He CF La Torreta It was Lamine Yamal’s first club where he spent five years, the first of his career. It was then that the skills of the ‘morenete’ (as Lamine was affectionately called in the club) caught the attention of The Masia.

The mother took the child’s hand and Juamna asked her: ‘Lamine, where do you want to go, to Barça or Espanyol?’ He looked up and said: ‘To Barça

Rafael Rodríguez, former president of La Torreta

“There was a Barça scout who had been told that there was a very good kid and after two, three weeks he showed up at the club’s old offices. He said that he was very interested in taking him. I asked him if we had to do a trial. He said no, no trial, that he was going to get in for sure, and that He was interested in it being fast because everyone knew that Espanyol had already given him a test. and he had presented a document, an agreement by which, if the family decided to go there, there would be advantages on the part of the club,” Rafael explains without having to make an effort to remember. He remembers the story as if it were yesterday.

The most interesting thing came later. Lamine had dazzled both Barça and Espanyol and a destination had to be chosen. The decision was made by Lamine himself: “Barça became interested more quickly and convinced the family to the point that Juanma, our coordinator, was there with Lamine’s mother, Sheila, and the child. The mother took the boy’s hand and Juamna asked him: ‘Let’s see, Lamine, where do you want to go, to Barça or Espanyol?’. He looked up and said: ‘I want to go to Barça‘”.

You can see the full chapter about Lamine Yamal’s childhood and first steps here.