Kylian Mbappé has come to the defense of Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal, urging the media and public to ease off on the teenager’s personal life. Speaking ahead of France’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, the Real Madrid forward reminded everyone that Yamal is still just 18 years old and deserves room to grow, both as a footballer and as a person.
In the same interview, Mbappé also gave updates on his fitness after recent concerns, echoing sentiments he shared earlier in the week about feeling fully ready for the upcoming clash. Mbappé stated passionately:
People talk a lot about his personal life, I think they should leave him alone. In football, he is a great player, but in life, he is an 18-year-old kid.
His remarks come at a time when Yamal has faced increased off-field attention. The French captain emphasized the need to protect young talents, noting that every teenager makes mistakes and learns from them. Mbappé added:
Everyone his age does good things and bad things. In the end, he will learn from experience.
His message strongly echoes the concerns voiced recently by Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who also urged fans to support Yamal’s development and provided updates on his condition ahead of El Clásico. The Real Madrid superstar went on to praise Yamal’s deep passion for the game, insisting that it’s his biggest strength. He said:
He shows a true passion for football, that’s one thing he should never lose.
Mbappé also called for privacy, stressing that unless a matter is truly serious, the focus should remain on what Yamal does on the pitch. Despite the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Mbappé ended with a gesture of respect:
He has great talent and I hope he follows the path he wants. I wish him good luck.
Fabrizio Romano shares a quote on his official X account from Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé comments defending Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, emphasizing he is youth off the pitch despite his talent on it.
His words serve as a reminder that even amidst competition, empathy and respect for young players must come first.
