Xavi fully on top of La Masia gem’s progress, could hand senior debut this season

Lamine Yamal is widely considered the next best thing coming out of FC Barcelona’s La Masia youth setup. Just 15 years of age, the forward has been making all the right noises in youth football and is being tipped for great things in the future.

The youngster is set to turn 16 this summer and will be eligible to sign his first professional contract. It has alerted clubs across Europe, but Barcelona are making important progress in renewing him and tying him down at the club.

Indeed, talks are said to be advancing with Yamal’s new agent, Jorge Mendes, and the club are optimistic about his extension.

Now, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is paying special attention to Yamal and is fully on top of the youngster’s progress and development.

The 15-year-old has been called up to first-team training on several occasions already this season.

Yamal was handed an internal sanction by the club recently for indiscipline while away on international duty with the Spanish national youth team.

Once the sanction was complete, the youngster was drafted into first-team training and has participated under Xavi’s watchful eyes in the last three sessions.

It was even speculated that Yamal could be in the squad for Monday night’s game against Girona. While that did not materialise, Mundo Deportivo claims that there is a good chance that Xavi could hand the 15-year-old his first-team debut before the season ends.

Following in the footsteps of La Masia products like Ansu Fati and Bojan, who made their first-team debuts at 16, and Gavi, who broke into the senior squad at 17, Yamal could be the next in line if he continues to impress the staff as he has been doing so far.