Hansi Flick hasn't needed much time to recognize an obvious fact that many overlooked. The German coach has inherited a squad with talent, but also with deep roots. One of those roots has a name: Lamine Yamal.
His breakthrough wasn't a coincidence or a stroke of luck, but the result of a brave decision at a critical moment. Xavi Hernández bet on him when he was still a teenager without a professional contract. Today, that bet has become one of the great jewels of European soccer.
Flick has wanted to highlight this both privately and in his first official statements. He believes that what he found in the locker room wasn't just talent, but a well-developed foundation. He doesn't hesitate to point to his predecessor as the one responsible for that legacy.
Xavi Hernández with Barça | @FCBarcelona
The context was adverse
Xavi's tenure was marked by tensions, cutbacks, and sporting urgencies that were impossible to manage comfortably. But instead of rushing to the market, he chose to look within the club. There he found more solutions than many expected.
Fermín López, Pau Cubarsí, or Héctor Fort weren't popular names just a year ago. However, with minutes and trust, they proved that they were ready to compete at the highest level. It all began thanks to the conviction of a coach who didn't hesitate when everyone else remained silent.
Xavi knew that La Masia couldn't remain just a slogan. He wanted to restore its real importance within the sporting project. Although his departure was abrupt, the fruits of his work continue to flourish in the current first team.
Fermín celebrating a goal | @FCBarcelona
The great jewel: Lamine Yamal
Among all the emerging talents, one stands out above the rest with a maturity beyond his years. Lamine Yamal has won over the locker room, the fans, and also the new coaching staff. Flick doesn't see him as a promise, but as an established reality.
Last season he already delivered memorable performances in La Liga and the Champions League, but his ceiling is still far from being reached. He trains like a veteran, competes with confidence, and listens to every piece of advice as if it were gold. He has the ideal profile to define an era at FC Barcelona.
Most importantly: he hasn't lost his hunger. In every match he gives the impression that he still wants more. Flick is delighted with that attitude, which he considers essential to aspire to titles.
Xavi Hernández and Lamine Yamal | @FCBarcelona
The German coach is clear about it
"This kid is special, you can tell with every ball he touches," he reportedly said in internal conversations. He has given him freedom within the system and considers him one of the three most untouchable players. He doesn't hide his gratitude toward the one who made the decision to give him his debut.
The phrase he repeats most often within the coaching staff is simple: "Xavi was absolutely right." Yamal is both present and future, but also a symbol of a way of understanding the club. Flick wants to build his Barça on that foundation, without forgetting who laid it first.
Moreover, the German feels comfortable working with young profiles. He believes that their room for improvement is greater and their commitment, purer. That's why Lamine will be one of the silent leaders of the new project from day one.
Xavi Hernández | @FCBarcelona
Xavi is no longer here, but his influence remains very present. Not only on the tactics board, but in the faces of those who grew up under his guidance. The passage of time has put things in their place.
Lamine Yamal isn't just Xavi's great success... he's his brightest legacy. Flick, who enjoys it every day, hasn't hesitated to pick up the phone and say it out loud. "Thank you for this, he's the best."
