'Money can weaken a player' - Robert Lewandowski sends warning to Lamine Yamal as hype around Barcelona wonderkid continues to build

Yamal had a breakthrough year with club and country in the 2023-24 campaign and the youngster continues to grow as a player in the current season, where he has had 25 goal contributions in 31 matches across all competitions for the Catalan giants. Despite cementing his place in Hansi Flick's side at just 17, veteran forward Lewandowski has issued a warning over the hype that is being built around the Barcelona sensation.

Speaking to Pilka Nozna, the Polish forward said: "His entourage is important, and he should not think about what will happen to him in two or three years, but that he will be at the highest level in ten years’ time. Money can also weaken a player. We are human. Also, let’s remember external stimuli. When I started it was different. You waited until Monday for the newspaper to come out and that was it, the internet was still in its infancy and it worked differently.

"That’s why, although Lamine’s talent is unquestionable, a series of decisions made by him and his entourage is important so that in ten years’ time he will still want more."

Lewandowski also revealed how Yamal impressed him as a 15-year-old when he first joined Barcelona's first team. He said: "He came to train with us when he was 15 years old, I saw him for the first time. I’ve seen a lot of young, talented people, ‘Oh, he’s got something!’, but I was never sure that there would be a great career behind it.

"Until I saw Lamine. And I said ‘wow’. I asked him his age, he told me fifteen and I replied that it was impossible. I admit that it is difficult for someone to impress me and it was the first time that a boy made such an impression on me. I honestly haven’t seen anyone like him. It’s not just talent, but playing like I’m five or seven years older."

The forward added: "He’s starting to learn quickly. Compared to the first year, when he started playing for Barcelona, for me, it’s much easier to play with him. I see that he also understands football better and better. It’s much easier to explain a tactical issue to him."

The Catalan side will be back in action on February 17 in La Liga as they take on Rayo Vallecano at home.