Jorge Mendes responded to recent criticism aimed at his client Lamine Yamal, which focused on the young player's media presence and remarks made before the Clasico against Real Madrid. The 18-year-old forward, regarded as one of Barcelona's top emerging talents, impressed with an outstanding performance against Club Brugge despite ongoing media scrutiny.
Mendes, known for managing Cristiano Ronaldo's career, expressed surprise at the harshness of the criticism directed at Yamal. He urged people to distinguish between the player's professional performance and his off-pitch life.
"I don't understand all the fuss surrounding Lamine Yamal. What we have to do is support him and help him as much as possible, because he is a great asset to the club."
The agent highlighted that Yamal remains fully dedicated to his career. Mendes also emphasized the efforts made by the player's team to shield him from intense media pressure.
"Having everyone watching you is a big responsibility. He is handling it very well and we must continue to help him."
Barcelona has communicated a message of calm regarding Yamal but has also taken steps to limit the youngster’s public appearances in order to manage his media exposure more carefully.
Author's summary: Jorge Mendes calls for support of Lamine Yamal amid criticism, stressing the importance of protecting the promising Barcelona talent from media pressure and valuing his contributions on the pitch.