Guti Surprises with Lamine Yamal After Eliminating Atlético: 'He's Like Kylian'

The victory of FC Barcelona against Atlético de Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals defines the final of the current edition of the 'K.O. tournament': it will be a Clásico. It also highlights several players like Lamine Yamal, who provided the assist to Ferran Torres, which meant the goal that eliminated Atlético in this competition. Guti, a regular panelist on 'El Chiringuito de Jugones,' held nothing back when talking about the '19' of Barça.

Josep Pedrerol asked the former '14' of Madrid if Lamine Yamal could be like him for "doing things almost without thinking, that came naturally". The remembered vision of the game of the former Real Madrid midfielder, according to the veteran Catalan journalist, could well be the great common point between Lamine Yamal and 'Guti' himself. "Not at all, not at all, much better than me," points out 'Guti'.

According to the Real Madrid panelist, Lamine Yamal "is a TOP player". But he is also clear that he is not "the best" right now, since "being the best is every matchday, and every matchday he is not," warns the former Real Madrid player. Moreover, 'Guti' seems to open a striking debate because Lamine Yamal "is like Kylian, like Vinícius..." because he is not consistent in being the most outstanding player.

Like the mentioned Real Madrid footballers, 'Guti' acknowledges that the '19' of Barça has "brutal talent, does things others can't do". Despite these striking praises for Lamine Yamal, the former Real Madrid player points out the great weakness: the lack of goals that many have attributed to him lately.

Honest Opinion

'Guti' understands, from his position as a midfielder, that "it's not necessary to only have goals" to be decisive in a match. But "for him, to win individual trophies, he will have to put the issue of scoring more goals in the bag," predicts the former Real Madrid footballer. Especially if he aspires to follow in the footsteps of position mates like Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Jr.

Lamine Yamal's season, for commentators like 'Guti', is leaving good impressions. While it is true that the '19' of Barça seems like a "decisive" footballer, points out the former Real Madrid player, he still has a long way to go before he is definitively established in the elite.

Because he is "a boy, a youth, who right now is the reference of Barcelona"... with all that this important status in the Barça locker room entails at a sporting level. His impact in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, facilitating the pass for Ferran Torres's solitary goal, is another step in his career.

But 'Guti' is clear that he is not the best player right now. Not only because of Lamine Yamal's lack of goals, but because he doesn't have the necessary consistency to be the standout in every match he has played. "What does it mean to be the best?" 'Guti' asks rhetorically about this striking debate surrounding Lamine Yamal.