Zinedine Zidane ignores Real Madrid to choose Barcelona & PSG stars when naming the current players who 'excite' him most

For a man so deeply intertwined with Real Madrid’s identity, Zidane’s words have landed like a thunderclap in the Spanish capital. Barcelona have long been the cradle of football geniuses. From Xavi and Iniesta to Messi, the club’s identity has been built on flair, intelligence, and artistry. Now, in Yamal, fans believe they’re witnessing the next great embodiment of that philosophy. Zidane’s words have only reinforced that belief. For Barca supporters, it’s validation from one of Madrid’s most revered figures, and that makes it all the sweeter.

Zidane, speaking in a recent media appearance, was asked which current stars capture his imagination. Without skipping a beat, Zidane pointed straight to the Catalan wonderkid.

"Regardless of position, one player who excites me when he touches the ball is Lamine Yamal," he said. "Against Inter last year in the Champions League at San Siro, he did it all on his own. Then I think of Vitinha or Joao Neves. They never lose the ball."

It’s not the first time Zidane has waxed lyrical about Yamal, and judging by his tone, it won’t be the last. Back in May, during a promotional event, Zidane was just as effusive about the teenage winger. He couldn’t stop himself from reliving Yamal’s stunning display against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final.

“When you see him play, for example, the semi-final against Inter Milan. In the second half… I’ve never seen anything like it in my life," he said. “It’s enough to see someone who is so dominant on the pitch. It’s fabulous to see him like that. So we all enjoy ourselves and that’s why, for all these young people, Lamine is the one to watch."

Yamal has made a timely return to training after recovering from a groin issue that ruled him out of Spain’s recent international fixtures. The 18-year-old was all smiles at the club’s training ground this week, taking part in light drills as the Catalans prepare for a crucial run of fixtures. The plan is to ease Yamal back gradually. He could make a cameo against Girona this weekend before potentially starting the Champions League clash with Olympiacos. 

But as Barca welcome back their teenage star, PSG are quietly watching from the shadows. Reports in France claim the Parisian giants have not given up hope of one day luring Yamal to the Parc des Princes. Having lost Messi to Inter Miami, the Ligue 1 champions see Yamal as the next big global face of football, and they’re one of the few clubs with the financial firepower to approach. The Catalan youngster recently signed a lucrative new deal after turning 18, tying him to Barcelona for the long term. But whispers persist that a blockbuster bid could one day test Barca’s resolve, much like Neymar’s record-smashing €222 million (£193.5m/$257m) move in 2017.

Barcelona’s schedule over the next few weeks is nothing short of brutal. They face Girona on October 18 in La Liga, then a high-stakes Champions League clash with Olympiacos just three days later. And looming at the end of that run is the season’s first El Clasico on October 26, a fixture that could define their campaign. The Catalans are two points behind Real Madrid after eight matchdays in La Liga, and their trip to the Bernabeu will be crucial to their championship chances. However, they had a stellar 2024-25 campaign against their arch-rivals as they won all four of their Clasicos. They scored 16 goals in those four matches and became the first team to score that many goals against Real Madrid in a single season.