Jordi Alba got 'wet' about Lamine Yamal's news with FC Barcelona. The former culé defender did not hide his admiration for the new Barça 'crack', although he made it clear how the club should take him to exploit his full potential.
Alba and Yamal only shared a few months before the L'Hospitalet player left for Inter Miami in 2023. However, the former Spanish international noticed the winger's enormous talent even before his debut with the first team.
"When I was at Barça I already trained with the first team at times and he even made his debut in a match against Betis. It is clear that he has grown a lot, he is a 17-year-old kid and what he is doing is crazy," he commented. the Catalan side.
Jordi Alba asks for patience with Lamine Yamal
Furthermore, he referred to comparisons with Leo Messi, inevitable for any 'crack' that emerges from La Masia. For Jordi, it is important to take care of the environment of Esplugues de Llobregat and downplay parallels and/or comparisons.
"You have to accompany him and the people there are doing very well. You have to be patient and not compare him with anyone because in the end Leo (Messi) is Leo and there is no other like him," argued the Inter Miami defender.
In that sense, he added about the Barça '19': "I think he is having a great season, taking on honors that are not easy at 17 years old and we have to give him a lot of courage. I hope he continues learning and enjoying football," said the former Barça defender.
Jordi and Gerardo 'Tata' Martino spoke to the local and international media in advance of the start of the MLS Cup playoffs, where the pink team will face Atlanta United in the quarterfinals. The 'herons' are the top favorites to win the league trophy.