Barçaâs starboys CubarsĂ and Yamal play with mentality of finest veterans
La Masia youngsters are wise beyond their years on the pitch. But with excitement comes fear of rushing something special At the end of Barcelonaâs 1-0 win over Real Mallorca this weekend, the best two players on the pitch put their arms around each otherâs shoulders and walked towards the end of Montjuic where Antonio Rebolloâs arrow once lit the Olympic flame. Wearing 33 and 27, one is a defender, the other a forward, both just a couple of kids having a laugh. Waiting for them beneath the torch and way across the track were the fans who had spent the night singing their names, holding on to a new hope. Pau CubarsĂ Paredes and Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana were born in Estanyol and Esplugues, Catalonia, and they are younger than Robert Lewandowski. Put together. CubarsĂ has just turned 17, Yamal is 16 and on a cold night they led Barcelona to victory and back to the light. At one end, CubarsĂ had done battle with the Canadian Cyle Larin and the Kosovan Vedat Muriqi. The latter a man whose coach calls him âa big, ugly beastâ and a 6ft 4in striker youâd âcross the street to avoidâ. The teenager took on âtwo towersâ in Xaviâs words, and had come out on top. At the other end, Yamal had crashed one shot against the bar that would have won it and then struck another that actually did. It came from nowhere, a goal so good they celebrated it twice: first when it curled in, then when it was played back on the screen, not so much a roar but an âOh!â which was even more eloquent. Did you see that?! Continue reading...