Before the national derby, ESPN released an exclusive interview with Rakitic, during which he was asked about the comparison between Mbappe and Yamal.
Can Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamar become the Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi of our era? Am I asking too much?
Rakitic: First of all, I think there will never be guys like Leo and Cristiano again. Also, I think it's a little different to talk about Kylian Mbappe in the same league as Lamin, because Mbappe is already a "veteran" in football. He has played in some World Cups, European Cups, and many Champions League games. As for Lamin, he seems to be some kind of special being. He's like that guy, for all of us who love football, you know. He could literally be all of our children, you know. And Lamin, you have to like it, because for an 18-year-old kid to be able to do what he's doing, that's football. This is amazing. It's pure enjoyment. And Mbappe, he is already an expert. He knows what he has to do in the big games, in these little games, in ordinary games.
I can understand that they are the face of these two teams and will probably win some Ballon d'Ors in the next few years. This is almost certain. But I think Lamin still needs to do a lot to reach the level of these big matches that Mbappe has experienced. So he got to work hard and we got to have fun with Lamin.
You just said that Lamin could be everyone's child. So let's say Lamin is your son. What would you say to him? How do you make sure his career is on the right track?
Rakitic: I think we don't have to mold, um, that "good boy" Lamin. He has to be himself. He had to be Lamin. He now has to try and bring some new dance moves to Madrid to be ready for this game. He knows the world will be paying special attention and we just have to push him, or we have to try not to lead him down the wrong path.
But what should I say to him now? "You must be like Xavi, like Puyol, and have a sense of identification with Barcelona and Catalonia "? No, he doesn't have to be that way. He must try to dance. He has to do all these videos that he does. He must go shopping. So if he has to go 20 times, so be it. You have to do lamin. We don't have to change Lamin. We just have to try to guide him on the right path. And I thought, if we could try to help out a little bit, I guess that would be great. And he knows that the love he has is not just from us, like the Barça family, I would say. I think what he has is love from the old guys across football.
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