Lamine Yamal and Mark Kukurella will now face off in El Clásico
Spanish football's young and bright star Lamine Yamal shared his thoughts in his own way about the upcoming matches against Marc Cucurella, who transferred to Real Madrid. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
The rivalry between the Barcelona forward and Madrid's new defender has been elevated to a new level ahead of the 2026 World Cup. According to Goal.com, Marc Cucurella recently moved to Real Madrid from Chelsea for a fee of £47.5 million.
Following this transfer, two Spanish national team players operating on the same flank will now face each other as rivals in El Clásico, considered the fiercest rivalry in Spanish football. Preparing for the playoff match against Austria in the World Cup, Lamine Yamal revealed in an interview with Goal that he had joked with Cucurella.
The young talent said he told Cucurella he would start in the first match but be on the bench in the second. Yamal emphasized his confidence in outplaying his opponent on the field.
For the 18-year-old forward, clashing with Real Madrid players is nothing new. Last season, he faced experienced defender Dani Carvajal on the pitch.
At that time, Yamal criticized Madrid's refereeing decisions, while Carvajal advised him to talk less. The young player showed he is not afraid to speak his mind.
According to him, this is an inevitable part of football, and he currently has no contact with any Real Madrid players. Such statements from Yamal will undoubtedly increase interest in the upcoming El Clásico matches.
After Robert Lewandowski left the team, Lamine Yamal expects the club's management to strengthen the attacking line. He openly expressed his desire to see his national teammate Mikel Oyarzabal, who plays for Real Sociedad, join Barcelona.
Oyarzabal scored eight goals last season and played a key role in helping his team win the Spanish Cup. Additionally, Yamal said he is also interested in Julián Álvarez's playing style.
However, he understands that transfer matters are handled by the club's sporting director, Deco. Yamal praised Deco's work and said he will support whoever joins the team.
Currently, both players — Yamal and Cucurella — are focusing their attention on the success of the Spanish national team in the World Cup. But with the start of the new season, they are destined to engage in a fierce battle on the same flank.
