Gundogan Compares Foden and Yamal, Sees Bright Future for Barcelona

Ilkay Gundogan, a veteran midfielder who witnessed Phil Foden's rise at Manchester City, now finds himself mentoring a similar talent at Barcelona: Lamine Yamal. Gundogan, who joined Barcelona in 2023, has observed striking similarities between Foden and Yamal, both of whom debuted as teenagers.

Like Guardiola at City, Xavi at Barcelona has shown faith in young players, giving Yamal ample playing time despite his tender age. However, Yamal's path has been more challenging, as he has assumed greater responsibility at a younger age than Foden.

Gundogan attributes this difference to the size and competitiveness of Barcelona's squad, which has forced Yamal to prove himself more quickly. Despite the pressure, Yamal's attitude and character have impressed Gundogan, who believes the competition will ultimately benefit him.

Barcelona's youth movement is evident in their roster, with over a dozen players born after 2004. Gundogan sees a bright future for the club, despite their current inconsistencies. He believes that the team is still in the early stages of a new project and that consistency will come with time.

While Barcelona trails Real Madrid in the league, Gundogan remains optimistic about their Champions League prospects. He is focused on making Xavi's farewell as a manager a memorable one and is confident that the team can achieve success under his guidance.

Tags: #PhilFoden, #LamineYamal, #IlkayGundogan, #ManchesterCity, #Barcelona