In the Copa del Rey round of 16, Barcelona defeated Betis 5-1, with superstar rookie Yamal delivering an outstanding performance, contributing one goal and one assist. According to statistics, this is the first time in Yamal's career that he has scored and assisted in the same match.
The 17-year-old Yamal has worn the numbers 41, 27, and 19 for Barcelona's first team. This season, he has excelled wearing the number 19 jersey, showcasing his astonishing talent and ability in various competitions.
Yamal has already played 24 games for Barcelona this season, starting 22 times and delivering a comprehensive record of 9 goals and 13 assists.
This super genius is not only efficient in scoring but also demonstrates great creativity in offensive organization, playing a core role for both Barcelona and Spain.
Currently, Yamal has made 75 appearances for Barcelona's first team, scoring 16 goals and providing 22 assists. Additionally, he has represented the Spanish national team 17 times, scoring 3 goals and making 8 assists.
Last summer, Yamal shone at the European Championship in Germany. He contributed one goal and four assists, helping the Spanish team win the championship and setting multiple historical records. He became the youngest player, assist provider, and goal scorer in European Championship history.
He was named the best young player of the tournament and successfully selected for the best lineup. Moreover, his stunning world wave against France was voted the best goal.
Undoubtedly, Yamal is the future of both Spain and Barcelona.
According to Spanish TV channel Jota Jordi, to reflect the club's importance and expectations for him, Yamal will be awarded the legendary number 10 jersey by Barcelona next season.
The current owner of the number 10 jersey at Barcelona is 22-year-old Fati, who has only played 8 games for Barcelona this season, with a dismal record of 0 goals and 0 assists.
Since taking over the legendary number 10 jersey for Barcelona in 2021, Fati's most successful season was 2022/23, when he played 51 times, contributing 10 goals and 3 assists.
Fati's prospects at Barcelona are currently not optimistic, with significantly reduced playing time and being excluded from the squad multiple times by Flick.
According to Spanish media Relevo, Barcelona is actively promoting Fati's departure. Barcelona is doing this mainly for two reasons: firstly, Fati currently has limited playing opportunities within the team; secondly, sending him away will free up salary space, making it possible to bring in Rashford.
Coach Flick has publicly stated that the reason Fati cannot play is not only related to his on-field performance but also involves attitude issues, as he has not met the team's expectations.
If Fati continues to choose to stay at Barcelona, he may face a blank season. For a young player like Fati, not playing can be fatal to his career development.
However, Fati's transfer negotiations are extremely complex. Although Barcelona wants to send him away, due to his high salary at Barcelona and his preference to stay with the team, the final outcome remains unknown.
Lastly, Yamal is another player who has transitioned from number 19 to number 10, which is both an honor and pressure. I sincerely hope he can become the new king of Barcelona after Messi.