Lamine Yamal would not have started for Barcelona in 2012, says Cristian Tello

Former Barcelona winger Cristian Tello believes Lamine Yamal would have struggled to secure a place in the club’s starting XI in 2012, when the team’s attack featured some of the strongest players in world football.

Tello, who recently retired from football, was asked by Spanish newspaper Sport how Yamal might have fared had he been at Barcelona during that period.

“Starting? I don’t think so,” Tello said. “It would have been difficult for him to break through. I believe he would have progressed to the level he has and shown what he is showing, but it would have been complicated.”

Barcelona’s forward line at the time included Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, David Villa, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

“As I said, we are talking about Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, Villa, Messi and Neymar,” added Tello. “It is extremely difficult for any player coming through the academy to find a place among them in the first team.”

Tello came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy and believes the pathway into the senior side is more accessible for young players now, particularly those aged 16, 17 and 18.

“Yes, it is more exceptional now,” he said. “The first team currently has a very large number of young players, so it becomes easier for them to break through.”

He contrasted that situation with the one faced by his generation, when established and experienced professionals occupied more positions in the squad.

“In our time, because there were far more players who were already well established in the top flight, it was more difficult for us to break through,” Tello said. “That is why I think it had greater value. The players in the first team were very experienced.”

Tello also praised Barcelona under manager Hansi Flick and expressed admiration for the way the team has developed in attack.

“I like it a lot,” he said. “As we said before, because of the players he has in attack, he likes to have a great deal of speed out wide. Now they are a juggernaut. We hope they can continue like this for a long time. They are in a very good and positive rhythm, and they can achieve big things this year.”

Yamal’s emergence has come as Barcelona have continued to give opportunities to several young players, a situation Tello considers different from the environment in which he made his own progress at the club.

Tello is now concentrating on life after football. According to Sport, he opened a car showroom called CT37 Edit Cars in the Catalan city of Terrassa three years ago.