Barcelona wonder kid Lamine Yamal surprisingly picks ex-Real Madrid star as his idol

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has surprisingly chosen former Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio as his idol growing up.

Yamal has made a blistering start to life with the Blaugrana senior team at just the age of 16. He became the youngest debutant in the La Liga giants' history when he stepped off the bench in a 4-0 win over Real Betis in April.

The Spanish teenager is viewed as the most exciting product of Barcelona's La Masia academy since Lionel Messi. He has impressed this season already, bagging two assists in four league games.

Asensio enjoyed a similar rise with Real Madrid during his youth days with an impressive debut record of his own. He scored on his La Liga, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Copa del Rey debuts.

Yamal may be looking to follow in the footsteps of Asensio albeit on the other side of the El Clasico rivalry. The young trickster has explained that he has followed his compatriot's run in the Spain national team, telling AS:

"A player in the Spanish NT? There are many great players here, but I have been following Marco Asensio since he joined the National Team for the first time."

The Barcelona academy graduate is set to earn his first international cap for Spain. Lamal has been selected alongside Asensio in La Roja's squad for UEFA European qualifiers against Georgia (September 8) and Cyprus (September 12). 

He could become his national team's youngest-ever player if he makes his debut in either of those games.

Asensio made his international debut in 2016 aged 20 and has been a mainstay in the Spanish national team since. He has earned 37 caps, scoring two goals and providing 10 assists. He represented Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and was part of the side that won the UEFA Nations League earlier this summer.

Lamal's admiration of Asensio may not upset Barcelona fans too much given he is no longer with rivals Real Madrid. The versatile attacker joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer following the expiration of his contract with Los Blancos.