Birthday boy Lamine Yamal talks Mbappe, Carvajal, Rabiot, England ahead of Euro 2024 final | OneFootball

Speaking in an extensive chat with MARCA, Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal has revealed that Kylian Mbappe asked for his shirt after the Spain vs France Euro 2024 semi-final contest.

“I was asked by Mbappe, well, by a toolmaker in the locker room and by Chiesa on the day of Italy,” said the recently turned 17-year-old.

“The players tell me who wants it. If Mbappe asks me for it, I give it to him [laughs] No problem. I don’t know the ones I have. When we won against France I was thinking about the final, you’re so excited that you don’t remember,” he added.

Yamal has been one of the finest players at the European Championship and riding on his impressive display, Spain have qualified for the final, where they will face England on Sunday.

Speaking during the chat, the young forward shed light on several aspects, including his conversations with Dani Carvajal, Nico Williams, Adrien Rabiot and even his goal against France.

An out-an-out Cule

Recently, veteran defender Carvajal revealed how he is always trying to convince Rodri to join him at Real Madrid. Yamal was asked if the Madrid defender does the same to him, to which he said,

“No, no, I’m always Barcelona.

Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal share a great friendship. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)

“The union we have. Here we don’t look at whether one plays for Atleti, Madrid or Villarreal. We are a team, a national team and what we are looking for is to give everything to the partner.

“We have everything we need. In addition, here we do something that is impossible in Spain: go out for a walk and let people not tell you anything. I’m mostly with Nico and Fermin, but also with Laporte, with Morata…”

Yamal looking forward to Sunday’s game

Amidst all the talk, Yamal also talked about the upcoming match against England, saying that Spain will not do anything different. They wil perform exactly as they did against Germany and France.

“How to beat England? Play as we are doing, like against Germany and France. Being us, having the ball and controlling the game at all times.

“I think we are the best in that and no one can stop us if we do it. We are doing very well. In the end, putting that intensity in it is key. Without it, you can’t win a Euro final.”

He went on to add that he sees Sunday’s outing as a dream ending for his 2023/24 season.

“How do I see Sunday? A dream ending, more with England as a rival. Everyone wants to play games like that. Now what we want is for the cup to end in Spain.”

Yamal’s take on Rabiot

Lamine Yamal was unplayable against France. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

France midfielder Rabiot took a cheeky jibe at Yamal ahead of the semi-final clash, saying that the young prodigy will have to be better than how he is right now.

Yamal responded with fantastic long-range worldie and talking about the entire incident, he explained,

“Rabiot’s words? I don’t think about those things. What mattered was to be there and help the team. Nothing more. I didn’t care about that.

“What he said at the press conference, without further ado. What I tried was to focus on the game and reach the final. And we did it.”

Speaking about the specific moment of the goal he scored, he added,

“The moment when I saw that there was a lot of space, I raised my head and saw the goal. I knew I could do it. And I was lucky that it was a goal.

“I have changed a lot, both as a person and in the way I play. I have grown in self-confidence, in the physical aspect… I am very happy about the change I have made,” explained the youngster.