Opponents have quickly realised that leaving the youngster in a simple one-on-one scenario is a recipe for disaster. Yamal revealed that he is now accustomed to being crowded out by several defenders at once, though he maintains a cool head about how to bypass these tactical traps by involving his team-mates more effectively.
"At least three [markers]. If I’m lucky, two. But one-on-one, never, ever, ever," he said when asked about the attention he receives. "So I start thinking about plays: I talk to the full-back and tell him, 'If I give you the ball, do this.' The manager tells me, 'If you have three, there are three teammates free.' So it’s about playing at the back, obviously, but the dribbling is all about improvising. You don’t plan it. It’s impossible."