Lamine Yamal: I play football for fun, not money
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineBarcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal says money, goals and assists are not the reasons he plays football, insisting that his biggest motivation is simply enjoying the game.
Yamal, speaking to The Guardian on Saturday, said he does not want to become obsessed with personal statistics and would rather focus on creativity, dribbling and helping his teammates.
Yamal said: “I don’t play football for money, I play because I like it.”
He added: “Players who are obsessed with goals or assists do not enjoy.
“I play for fun, to dribble, to play one touch, two, to make a teammate who has not scored, score, for happiness.”
The teenager also opened up about his interaction with Lionel Messi, revealing that he approached the Argentina great simply to thank him for his contribution to football.
Yamal said: “I went to Leo Messi and said: thank you.”
He added: “I just thanked him a lot for everything he has done and how he’s the best. I’ve always believed he is the best.”
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- Lamine Yamal: I play football for fun, not money
Yamal said the encounter was spontaneous and not something he intended to turn into a publicity moment.
Yamal said: “I always try to distance myself a little from things that seem beautiful for show. The moment came from within. I saw him there, so I went to thank him for what he did for football, it came spontaneously.”
For Yamal, the comments reflect his desire to preserve the enjoyment and spontaneity that drew him to football rather than allowing statistics or the attention surrounding the game to become his main focus.
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