Former Barcelona star Sergio Aguero recently shared his views on Barcelona’s emerging talent Lamine Yamal, comparing him to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
Aguero expressed that, in his opinion, Yamal may actually edge out Vinicius in terms of raw talent and versatility.
Although Vinicius brings more experience to the pitch, having secured titles with Real Madrid, Aguero believes Yamal possesses a broader skill set at his young age.
“In style of play, speaking of talent, Lamine has much more than Vinicius although Vinicius has more experience and is more of a player with titles won with Madrid.
“Vinicius is one of the ‘top 3’ in the world but for age and talent, I prefer Lamine more,” he began saying.
If Aguero could create his ideal team, he would have both Yamal and Vinicius on either wing, creating a dynamic that he likens to the duo of Messi and Neymar during their time together at Barcelona.
“If it were up to me, I would have one on each side of my team and let the opponent pray. It’s like when Messi and Neymar were together,” he noted.
Mbappe vs Vinicius
Discussing the roles of other notable players like Kylian Mbappe, Aguero highlighted that while Mbappe has joined Real Madrid and adds significant value, his style differs notably from Vinicius.
“What one has, the other doesn’t and the other way around. Mbappé must try to adapt to Madrid’s game,” he explained.
Mbappe tends to function more as a striker, staying central and waiting for counterattack opportunities, a role he excelled in while at PSG.
Vinicius, however, plays a critical role in Madrid’s setup by breaking down defensive lines and creating space, which has earned him a reputation as one of the world’s top three players.
“In Paris, he would stay up top and wait for counterattacks to kill there but they are totally different.
“You don’t see the Mbappé of PSG who painted the face of the opponent. Playing against Madrid, you have to protect Vinicius’ area. He is the one who breaks up the game and hurts you,” he explained.
El Clasico
When discussing the upcoming El Clasico, Aguero admitted it’s difficult to predict a winner. However, he leaned slightly in Barcelona’s favour, noting the momentum and confidence the team currently possesses.
“It will be a nice game. I won’t bet on it but Barça is very good.”
Aguero acknowledged the unique threat Madrid brings, especially in the final moments of the game, recalling his own experiences with Atletico Madrid, where he witnessed how Madrid consistently managed to clinch victory in the dying minutes.
“The field always influences and it will be complicated but they have more chances to win than Madrid although Real don’t even need 20% of the ball and score.
“Why is that so? You don’t know but historically in the last 10 minutes, they have things that the rest don’t have. I suffered it at Atletico,” he noted.
To Aguero, this is not a matter of luck but rather a quality Madrid seems to master—a mentality that sets them apart from other teams.