Karim Adeyemi: Barcelona can beat any team and Lamine Yamal would deserve Ballon d’Or

Karim Adeyemi says Barcelona have the quality to overcome any opponent as they pursue success in the Champions League, describing the Spanish club as “the best team in the world”.

The German winger joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in the summer in a deal worth 30m euros. He has made an immediate impact, scoring three goals and providing three assists in his first seven appearances for the club.

Speaking on Barcelona’s website, Adeyemi said: “Barcelona is the best team in the world. We can beat any opponent and we have exceptional quality, so we just have to enjoy playing every day.”

He added that the start to life at Barcelona had been particularly positive because of the team’s results and his own contribution.

“I feel good. The most important thing is that we have won every match so far,” Adeyemi said. “For me, it is also great to be able to score goals and enjoy the minutes I get with this club.”

Adeyemi also spoke about the sense of belonging he has found since moving to Barcelona, saying the club’s identity was something he experienced rather than learned about beforehand.

“Barcelona is not just a club; it is like a family,” he said. “I did not look that up online or ask anyone about it. It is a feeling you experience yourself.

“When I arrived here, I noticed that the atmosphere was different and I felt at home very quickly.”

Adeyemi backs Yamal for Ballon d’Or

Asked to name his choice for the Ballon d’Or, Adeyemi said it was difficult to select one player because of the different qualities across the game. He said Lionel Messi, now at Inter Miami, remained the exception in his view.

“It is difficult for me to nominate just one player,” he said. “Every player is different, and you cannot say that one player is the best in the world, except Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, who I see as the best every year.”

Adeyemi identified Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal as one of the leading contenders for the award and said victory would be fully deserved.

“Lamine Yamal is one of the leading candidates, and if he wins the Ballon d’Or, it will be completely deserved,” he said.

Barcelona currently lead La Liga with 18 points, having won all of their matches. Their next fixture is against Sevilla on Saturday at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in matchday seven.