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5 hours ago
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Barcelona star Raphinha has shared a light-hearted yet telling story about his young teammate Lamine Yamal.
And no, it’s not about goals, assists, or training ground nutmegs — this one’s about Neymar, text messages, and a very curious teenager on vacation.
Fresh off his breakout season, 17-year-old Yamal took a well-earned break in Brazil. While there, he met one of his biggest football idols — none other than Neymar Jr.
The pair were seen laughing by the pool, playing footvolley, and even swapping shirts like it was a friendly El Clásico.
🌟 Lamine Yamal & Neymar Jr 🌟 pic.twitter.com/imdvSRkJzW
— FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_fra) June 22, 2025But as it turns out, this dream link-up had a little behind-the-scenes setup. And Raphinha, the ever-reliable teammate, had a role in it.
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What Raphinha said to Lamine Yamal?
In an interview with SPORT, Raphinha revealed that Yamal had one simple but anxious question for him.
“He asked me if I was going to text Neymar, if he was going to reply. And I told him of course he’s going to reply,” Raphinha said with a laugh.
Understandably, Yamal wasn’t sure if the Brazilian star would respond. But Raphinha had no doubts. With Yamal’s rapid rise to stardom, he believes the teenager now has access to just about anyone in the game.
“I think with the level he's reached, he has access to anything he wants or anyone, even Neymar Jr. It's no coincidence the two of them were together.”
Raphinha also said Yamal asked him for ideas about places to visit in Brazil. He kept it simple: beaches and fun.
“The only thing I told him is that there is no way to spend a vacation in Brazil without looking for a good beach and a good place to have fun.”
Classic advice from one Brazilian to another — or in this case, a Barcelona winger to his fast-rising partner-in-crime.
For Yamal, it’s just the beginning. Neymar was once the teenage prodigy wearing the Blaugrana. Now, he’s welcoming the next big thing.
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