Lamine Yamal is riding the crest of a wave and there's not a footballer on the planet who wouldn't love to play with him.
The 17-year-old was in scintillating form as Barcelona played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, firmly putting himself in the Ballon d'Or conversation if the opinion of Rio Ferdinand is anything to go by.
The king pole of that argument is Spain's triumph at last summer's European Championship, in which Yamal played a telling role.
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Later, the teenage winger told the media that there is one player in particular he'd love to play alongside one day and it's a pairing that could actually come to fruition against all the odds.
Yamal is hoping to fire his home-town club to a famous treble this season, with the Copa del Rey already in the bag and Barcelona in the driving seat for La Liga.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Radioestadio Noche (via City_Chief), the youngster was quick to reveal who that one player was.
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"Kevin De Bruyne," said Yamal.
Naturally, Manchester City fans were excited about even the slimmest chance that the pair could join forces at the Etihad Stadium.
Irrespective of any mutual interest that should materialise, the idea of Yamal moving to City would have been squashed by the teenager's colossal €1 billion release clause.
Now, De Bruyne's imminent departure from Man City could, just maybe, open the door to a unification of superstar players at the Nou Camp instead.
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De Bruyne announced in April that his decade-long association with City will end at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
The 33-year-old Belgium international is attracting interest from around the world.
His decision this summer will shape the twilight of his career and lifestyle matters come in to play too. Links with Major League Soccer clubs including Inter Miami and Chicago Fire have persisted, while Saudi Pro League clubs would surely snap him up.
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Even City's Premier League rivals Aston Villa and De Bruyne's former club Wolfsburg have been mentioned since his emotional announcement.
While Yamal doesn't yet have the recruitment influence at the club that Lionel Messi has enjoyed at times in his career, if Barcelona listen to the teenager it could make for the surprise transfer of the window.
Topics: Champions League, La Liga, Barcelona, Lamine Yamal
Chris Nee