I can’t wait to face Madrid in El Clásico — Yamal

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Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has made it clear that he is eager to face Real Madrid in El Clásico, describing the fixture as a completely different experience for players who come through La Masia.

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Speaking to Movistar on Friday , Yamal said: “I want to face Real Madrid in El Clásico. I’d really love that.”

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The 19-year-old explained that Barcelona academy graduates grow up understanding the importance of the rivalry from an early age.

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“If you come from La Masia, you know El Clásico feels like a battle,” Yamal said.

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Yamal also recalled watching Marcus Rashford play in his first Clásico and believes the forward initially had yet to fully understand the intensity surrounding the fixture.

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“I remember I watched Rashford play on his first Clásico and thought to myself that he does NOT yet know what this game means,” he said.

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According to Yamal, that changed in the return fixture, when Rashford produced a more intense performance and scored from a free kick.

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“Then in the return leg, he truly understood what a Clásico means, when he scored a goal from a free kick and played with a different intensity.

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“When you come from La Masia, from your very first Clásico, you already know what this match means.” Yamal added.

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Yamal’s comments underline the significance he places on the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry and his desire to experience another Clásico against the Spanish giants.

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