Former Barcelona midfielder lauds young talent making waves at the club – ‘Extraordinary talent’ | OneFootball

Miralem Pjanic, a former Barcelona player, made an appearance at the Globe Soccer Gala in Dubai.

The 34-year-old Bosnian midfielder, who now plays for CSKA Moscow, did not collect any awards during the ceremony, but he took part in an interview with the media, where he shared his thoughts on modern football and highlighted the rising talent of Lamine Yamal.

Hearing about Lamine Yamal

Pjanic, who was part of Barcelona between 2020 and 2022, recalled hearing about Yamal even during his time at the club.

“I don’t think that as a footballer I’m surprised by any player. I do like watching Lamine Yamal when he has the ball,” he said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Despite spending just one season at Barcelona in the 2020-21 campaign, where he made 30 appearances without scoring, Pjanic noted that Yamal had already been earmarked as a future star.

Miralem Pjanic had nothing but praise for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

“When I was at Barcelona they were already talking about him. They told me that he would be a future star and they were right. We have to protect him because he has extraordinary talent,” he added.

His recognition of Yamal’s potential came as no surprise, as the youngster had been the subject of conversations among his former teammates and club officials.

It must be noted that After his time at Barcelona, Pjanic went on loan to Besiktas in 2021 before joining Sharjah in the UAE Pro League. In 2024, he made a permanent move to CSKA Moscow.

Despite a relatively short stint at Barcelona, his experience at the club gave him valuable insight into the emerging stars within the team, and his praise for Yamal serves as a testament to the midfielder’s sharp eye for talent.

As Yamal continues to rise in prominence, the football world is watching closely, with many believing that he has a bright future ahead. For Pjanic, it seems clear that the 17-year-old is destined to become one of the game’s biggest stars in the years to come.