Sevilla manager Matias Almeyda has heaped praise on Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, describing the young forward as the best player in the world ahead of their upcoming league clash.
Barcelona are set to host Sevilla at Camp Nou in a crucial La Liga encounter on Sunday. The Catalan giants head into the match aiming to return to winning ways after settling for a 1–1 draw against Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie.
Currently sitting at the top of the La Liga table, Barcelona will be looking to maintain their strong domestic form against a Sevilla side struggling in 14th place.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Almeyda expressed his admiration for Yamal’s exceptional talent and rapid development. The Sevilla boss said the Spanish youngster is a delight to watch and continues to improve with every game.
“Right now he is among the best in the world. He is very young and keeps getting better every day,” Almeyda said, according to Barca Universal. “For me, he is the best player in the world today. It is a joy to watch him play.”
However, Almeyda also highlighted that Yamal is not the only threat in the Barcelona squad, noting that the team boasts several other quality players across the pitch and even on the bench.
The Sevilla coach further praised Barcelona’s overall quality, describing them as the strongest side in Spain and one of the top teams in Europe. He admitted that playing at Camp Nou will be a huge challenge for his team.
Almeyda pointed out that Sevilla have not won at Barcelona’s home ground in more than two decades, a statistic he acknowledged could weigh on his players. Despite that, he said his side will attempt to approach the game with a clear strategy.
At just 18, Yamal has already emerged as one of football’s brightest stars. The Barcelona forward finished as runner-up in the Ballon d’Or race last season and has continued his impressive form this campaign, scoring 20 goals and providing 15 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.
