Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka continue to send messages to each other
Lamine Yamal has sent a clear Barcelona response to Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal star’s glowing verdict of him. Despite being knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage, both wingers have lit up this season’s competition.
For Saka, it was his mature display against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu that stole the headlines. Just a few weeks later, Yamal put in a sensational performance against Inter to drag his side back into the tie after falling behind.
Unfortunately, football fans will not get to see their brilliance on the biggest stage in Munich as Barcelona were knocked out by their Italian opponents while Arsenal lost to Paris Saint-Germain over two legs.
Like many aspiring young footballers, it appears that both have a special bond with Thierry Henry. The Saka link is very clear and it would seem as though Yamal also admires him alongside perhaps a hidden love for Arsenal.
Following Barcelona’s chaotic 3-3 semi-final first leg stalemate at home to Inter, Yamal spoke to CBS Sports after the game where he and Henry exchanged some intriguing words.
“I’m going to watch the [El] Clasico [Barcelona vs Real Madrid],” the Arsenal icon began. “Would it be possible for you to give me your shirt, for my son?”
Yamal replied: “I’ll have to do a swap, you have mine and I’ll have yours.”
“The Barça one, I suppose?,” Henry fired back.
“Barcelona, the Arsenal shirt, whichever one you want,” the young Spaniard said. Based on that, a Barcelona and Arsenal final could have been his dream with Saka likely also wanting that following his glowing verdict of Yamal.
“He’s top. Honestly, doing what he is doing at his age, what can you say, he’s unreal,” Saka admitted in an interview with Sky Sports. “It’s not normal. No one does it. I don’t think I’ve seen that level for a 17-year-old, so credit to him.”
With Saka making his feelings on Yamal perfectly clear, a response from the 17-year-old was expected and has now arrived.
Asked to name his favourite player outside of Barcelona by GOAL, he said: “Right now, I think [Ousmane] Dembele or Bukayo Saka are doing really well.”
Dembele has also impressed this season and following a goal and assist against Arsenal in the semi-finals, he has more goal contributions than both in this season’s Champions League. He is some way off winning the golden boot for this campaign’s tournament but winning the whole thing would surely make up for that.
The final between PSG and Inter is set for Saturday, May 31 at Allianz Arena. It could very easily have been Arsenal in that position but their focus will now certainly be on the summer transfer window.
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