"We have to protect him" - Former Barcelona star makes bold claims about Lamine Yamal

Former Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic was full of praise for star attacker Lamine Yamal. The Bosnian suggested that the teenager was talked about even during his stint at the club back in 2020-21, insisting that the club had to monitor him carefully.

Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, he said (via Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo):

“I don’t think that as a footballer I’m surprised by any player. I do like watching Lamine Yamal when he has the ball,” he said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“When I was at Barcelona they were already talking about him. They told me that he would be a future star and they were right. We have to protect him because he has extraordinary talent,” he added.

One of the club's most-touted prospects, Yamal burst onto the scene under Xavi last season, emerging as a key option in the right wing for the Spanish manager. An impressive season, collecting seven goals and nine assists in 50 games saw him earn selection to Spain's national side for the 2024 Euros. He carried his strong form there, playing a key role as La Roja lifted the trophy.

This year he has picked up right where he left off, emerging as a talismanic attacker for Barcelona. He has six goals and 12 assists in 21 games and La Blaugrana have critically missed his creativity down the right as they endure a difficult run of results in his absence owing to an ankle injury.

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Barcelona receive blow in contract situation surrounding midfield star: Reports

Olmo is set to be ineligible to play.

Barcelona are set to be unable to register Dani Olmo for the second half of the campaign. A hearing in a Spanish court rejected the side's appeal to register him for the remainder of the campaign.

This means the 26-year-old cannot feature for La Blaugrana from January 1. The club reportedly paid £60 million to secure his services from RB Leipzig in the summer. However, financial difficulties meant they were only able to offer him a four-month deal.

Barcelona were hopeful of finding a way around LaLiga's rules regarding their financial situation. However, the league maintains that since they are over their allowed wage limit, further registration of any players will not be allowed.

Olmo's agreement with the club now allows him to find a new club starting from the new year and he can move on a free. The player's agent has reportedly already been spotted in England, fuelling rumours of a move to the Premier League.