Lamine Yamal reveals Sergio Busquets conversation that changed his career

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has revealed how a serious conversation with former teammate Sergio Busquets became a turning point in his young career, teaching him the importance of discipline and responsibility.

Speaking to Movistar+ on Universo Valdano, the Spanish international recalled being suspended from the national team for three weeks in 2023 after getting into trouble with Spain’s youth setup.

When Busquets learned about the incident, he confronted the young winger and reminded him of the responsibilities that came with representing Barcelona.

“Once I was suspended from the national team, and Busquets said to me, ‘What have you done?’ Seriously. He told me, ‘You’re at Barça, you have to behave.’ That was a ‘phew, I have to wake up’ moment, and from then on I put my whole life on hold and dedicated myself entirely to football,” Yamal explained.

The 19-year-old admitted that the experience changed his priorities. He spent the following year concentrating almost exclusively on training, matches and recovery, while making time to visit his mother.

“It was a year where I didn’t go out: I trained, I played, I rested, I went to see my mother, and I kept going. It was football, football, and football. And I told myself, ‘Until I’m an undisputed starter here, I’m not going to do anything I’ll regret.”

Yamal has since established himself as one of Barcelona’s leading players, with Busquets’ advice serving as an important lesson in managing life as a football superstar.