Lamine Yamal predicts he will move into Messi-style central role

Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, 18, says he will eventually move into a central role, following the tactical path of Lionel Messi. Currently a regular on the right flank for club and country, he believes moving inside is the only way to escape the frequent triple-marking he now faces.

Explaining his thinking he said: "I think Leo was also marked by three players. And the only place where three players can’t mark you is in the middle. There are too many players there. As time goes on, I’ll end up there, because it’s very easy to defend with three on the wings, but they can’t mark me in the middle." Yamal added that he feels more decisive between the lines and has already been used centrally at times.

"I can take on defenders one-on-one in the middle. I’m a more decisive player if I turn in the middle than if I turn out wide," he said, while acknowledging that "right now I think it’s better for the team if I’m out wide. But there will come a time when I’ll be more decisive in the middle.

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