Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed his belief that Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal is destined to make history, though he called for patience and balance in handling the teenager’s rise.
Speaking to Radioestadio Noche on Onda Cero, De la Fuente underlined the need to prioritise Yamal’s personal growth alongside his footballing development.
“He is going to make history,” the coach said. “But we must give him calm, prudence, and develop him as a person before as a footballer. We must help him, as we do with all young players.
“When I substituted him in the Nations League final, he never disrespected me. Had it been otherwise, I would have reprimanded him.”
The Spain manager also welcomed Alvaro Morata’s move to Serie A newcomers Como, describing the national team captain as a figure who deserves special recognition.
“The most unfair thing is to treat everyone the same,” he remarked. “He deserves different treatment because he is the captain and has always looked after his teammates.
“In another country, he would already be considered a legend, but here it is more difficult for him. It is good news that he is at Como, that he is happy. The squad list isn’t decided yet – it depends on him, and we will see over the next two matchdays.”
De la Fuente also revisited comments he made in July about Real Madrid prospect Gonzalo Garcia, who has broken into the first team after impressing at last summer’s Club World Cup. At the time, he said the striker “needed more experience” – words he later contextualised.
“I come from a small town, and there we use expressions like ‘he needs more experience’,” De la Fuente explained. “We are developers of people, instilling values. I celebrate that there are many players like Gonzalo – it’s great news for Spanish football.
“But young players must work hard because the national team is very strong. I wish a coach had spoken of me that way; he should know he is on our radar.”
