Former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart has never been afraid to express his strong opinions.
In his role as a sports consultant, he has often criticized young talents, and Lamine Yamal has not escaped his criticism. After a difficult first leg for Spain against the Netherlands, in which Yamal wasn’t at his best, Van der Vaart didn’t hesitate to question his attitude.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, the former Real Madrid player noted that the young Spanish winger seemed to lack combativeness, highlighting details like his slightly lowered shorts, which he considered a sign of unprofessionalism. According to him, Yamal needed to enjoy every minute on the pitch more and prove his worth, especially at his age.
However, in the return match, Lamine Yamal responded in the most effective way possible: on the pitch. After scoring the decisive goal, he celebrated by pulling down his shorts. A symbolic gesture, full of confidence and maturity, that quickly made the rounds on social media.
And even though he missed his penalty, Spain qualified for the Nations League semi-finals. On social media, Lamine Yamal laughed it off with a no less cheeky message: “Shorts down, a goal, a missed penalty… and into the semi-finals.” Rafael van der Vaart will appreciate that!
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