Barcelona supporters, brace yourselves! José Mourinho, ever the provocateur, has stoked the flames of the Clasico rivalry with a cheeky remark about Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal.
Fresh off his Europa League win with Fenerbahçe, Mourinho couldn’t resist stirring the pot in the transfer market. Speaking with COPE, the Portuguese manager shared his thoughts on two standout young Spanish wingers from Euro 2024: Yamal, the breakout sensation from Spain, and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.
“In the Euros,” Mourinho began with a mischievous tone, “everyone was talking about ‘Yamal, Yamal, Yamal.’ He’s a great player, but personally, I prefer Nico [Williams].”
That’s a direct jab at Barcelona’s prized prodigy. Yamal, a 17-year-old graduate from La Masia, has captivated Europe with his dazzling skills and speed. Barca fans were already imagining him as the next Messi.
But Mourinho, ever ready to provoke, backed Yamal’s La Liga rival, Nico Williams. The 22-year-old Bilbao winger may not have the same level of hype, but Mourinho’s praise holds weight. Is this a subtle nudge towards his former club, Real Madrid?
The “White House” certainly knows how to poach talent from Barcelona, with past moves like Luis Figo and more recently, Vinicius Junior—another La Masia graduate now thriving at the Bernabéu.
Is Mourinho playing mind games, or does he genuinely believe Williams is the more complete player? One thing is clear: his comments have set off a storm on social media. Barcelona fans are furious, while Real Madrid supporters are enjoying the attention.
Will Nico Williams emerge as the next Bernabéu hero, or will Yamal silence his critics and become a Camp Nou legend? Only time will tell, but one thing’s certain: the rivalry between these two La Liga titans just became even more heated.