According to a report by Barca Universal on Friday, October 16, 2026, former Barcelona youth coach Ivan Carrasco has disclosed that Lamine Yamal demonstrated remarkable footballing talent long before making his breakthrough into the senior team.

Carrasco believes the young winger's natural ability, outstanding decision-making and exceptional understanding of the game made him different from other players of his age. He insisted that Yamal never needed a coach to teach him the fundamentals of playing football.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Carrasco reflected on his experience working with Barcelona's 2006 and 2007 youth teams. Among the players he coached were Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal, Hector Fort, Xavi Espart and Marc Guiu.

The former coach described Yamal as an extraordinary prospect whose performances in both training and competitive matches consistently set him apart from his teammates. He particularly highlighted the winger's dribbling skills, finishing ability and technical excellence.

According to Carrasco, however, Yamal's greatest quality was not limited to what he could do with the ball. His ability to read the game, recognise different situations and make quick, effective decisions also distinguished him from other young footballers.

Carrasco stressed that Barcelona must avoid placing unnecessary restrictions on the teenager's natural playing style. He believes gifted players like Yamal require freedom, encouragement and a suitable environment to flourish rather than excessive instructions that could undermine their creativity and instincts.

Meanwhile, Carrasco also spoke highly of Cubarsi, praising the defender's leadership, maturity and communication skills during their time together. He explained that the youngster displayed an impressive mentality that placed him ahead of many of his contemporaries.

Bernal also received praise for his progress under Carrasco's supervision. The coach revealed that the midfielder initially operated in a more advanced central position before gradually developing into a defensive midfielder.

However, Barcelona's youth coaches had to find a solution because Espart was already regularly occupying the defensive midfield role. To ensure both players had enough opportunities to feature, they experimented with deploying Bernal at right-back.

The tactical change worked during that period, enabling Bernal to continue his development while allowing Espart to remain in his preferred position.

Carrasco's comments underline the exceptional quality of Barcelona's youth academy and the natural abilities, tactical intelligence and versatility that have helped produce one of the club's most promising generations of young footballers.