Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, widely regarded as one of football’s brightest young stars, has revealed his toughest opponent yet: Germany and RB Leipzig’s David Raum.
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The revelation comes after an electrifying debut season for Yamal, where he played a crucial role in Barcelona’s La Liga triumph and Spain’s victory at Euro 2024.
Breaking through Barcelona’s academy in August 2023, Yamal quickly became a standout player. His phenomenal performances earned him the Young Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2024, where he helped Spain clinch the championship.
With six goals and 11 assists already this season, the 17-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down.
Despite outmaneuvering world-class defenders throughout his young career, Yamal admitted to Tuttosport that Raum gave him the toughest challenge during Spain’s Euro 2024 semi-final victory over Germany.
“David Raum, the left-back of Germany and Leipzig, is a tough and brave defender. At the European Championship, he proved to be a difficult opponent to beat,” Yamal confessed.
Raum, who has become one of the Bundesliga’s most reliable full-backs, has also caught the attention of Premier League giants. Reports suggest Manchester United are eyeing the 26-year-old for a potential summer transfer. United views Raum as a perfect fit for Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. However, with Raum under contract at Leipzig until 2027, a move won’t come easily.
Although linked to Bayern Munich and the Premier League, Raum remains committed to Leipzig. “I have no idea what will happen after this season. But I feel extremely comfortable here and see my future in Leipzig,” Raum said. While acknowledging the allure of the Premier League, Raum emphasized his current focus on Leipzig, leaving the door open for potential opportunities down the line.
