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Barcelona star Lamine Yamal praised Mohamed Salah as a "great and very important player" while also talking up the quality of Egypt's national team and predicting a bright future for Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim.
Speaking on the program "From Cairo," broadcast on On Sport, Yamal touched on Egyptian football, Barcelona's progress under Hansi Flick and his choice for the greatest player in football history.
Asked about Egyptian football, Yamal reserved particularly warm words for Salah, describing him as one of the country's standout figures.
"Mohamed Salah is a great and very important player," Yamal said.
The Spain international also praised Egypt as a team, saying its strengths went beyond physical qualities. He said he had expected Egypt to perform at a high level against Argentina and highlighted the team's technical ability.
"Everyone knows that Egypt has distinguished players, and I was expecting this level of performance against Argentina," he said. "The Egyptian national team has a distinguished technical level, not just a physical one."
Yamal also singled out Hamza Abdelkarim, describing the Egyptian youngster as a prolific striker who can adapt well and has the qualities required to develop into an outstanding forward.
"He is a striker who scores a lot of goals, and he has a high ability to adapt," Yamal said. "A dazzling future awaits him, and he possesses all the qualities that make him a wonderful striker, and he will score many goals for the team."
Yamal later went even further when addressing Abdelkarim directly, saying: "He has the skills and abilities to be a legend."
When asked about African players competing for the Ballon d'Or, football's leading individual award, Yamal said he hoped more African players would continue to make the shortlist, while stressing that the prize should come down to performance rather than nationality.
Turning to Barcelona, Yamal said the team had taken a step forward this season in terms of understanding and harmony between the players.
"We play for the sake of the team, and our goal is always to win," he said.
Yamal explained that he tries to make a difference while carrying out Flick's instructions and maintaining balance within the team, adding that Barcelona adapts to the different qualities individual players bring.
Looking toward the Champions League, he said Barcelona would need luck on its side but should set out to win the competition.
"Luck must be on our side, and we must play to win the title, and I hope to achieve the title this year," he said.
When asked to choose the greatest player in football history from Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona, Yamal came down firmly on the side of the former Barcelona star.
"Messi, from what I have seen and watched, I will choose Messi with all that he has offered and all that he continues to offer," Yamal said.
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