A former Super Eagles of Nigeria captain has labelled Barcelona's Lamine Yamal the saviour of modern football after his heroics in the Champions League
Lamine Yamal’s jaw-dropping display in Barcelona’s 3-3 Champions League semi-final draw against Inter has left football fans and legends alike singing his praises.
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Among the most vocal admirers was Nigerian icon Sunday Oliseh, who declared Yamal one of the few young stars capable of saving modern football.
Sunday Oliseh hails Yamal as beacon of hope for football
The former Borussia Dortmund and Juventus midfielder heaped praise on Yamal after the teenager lit up the first leg of the semi-final clash.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Oliseh wrote, “Players like Lamine Yamal and Désiré Doué of PSG in my opinion are the trending ‘Football Geniuses’ set to save football from ‘overpassing, less creativity, and lack of spectacle.’
For Oliseh, watching Barcelona’s and PSG’s youth stars was a refreshing throwback to a time when was not defined by rigid tactics and unflinching coaches.
The ex-Super Eagles captain revelled in the spectacle he witnessed from Yamal and co, saying, “I had a blast watching PSG and Barcelona talents on display. Cannot wait for next Tuesday and Wednesday. Can you?”
Yamal delivering beyond his years
With performances like Yamal’s, it’s easy to see why Oliseh waxed lyrical on social media following the Champions League semifinal first legs.
The 17-year-old tore through Inter Milan’s backline relentlessly, hitting the frame of the goal twice, and scoring the goal that brought Barcelona back into the tie.
Yamal has been crucial to Barcelona this season and has already notched 15 goals and 20 assists across all competitions.
The teenager is one of the main driving forces behind Barcelona’s push for another historic treble, as the Blaugrana find themselves within touching distance of winning the UEFA Champions League and LaLiga titles in addition to their already secured Copa del Rey crown.
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