Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraui, has publicly defended his son against growing criticism related to his recent birthday celebration. Nasraui insisted that the young Barcelona star has not done anything wrong and emphasized that he would be the first to correct him if necessary.
In a statement to Europa Press, Nasraui addressed the backlash Yamal has received after reportedly hiring individuals with dwarfism to perform at his 18th birthday party. He said (via Reshad Rahman on X):
“I do not listen to outside criticism, I listen to myself, and what I’m saying is that my son is doing things right. Instead of focusing on their own lives, people look elsewhere and are consumed by envy. That’s their problem. I would be the first to pull my son by the ears and say, ‘Lamine, this is not right, my son,’ but he hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Nasraui went on to express his unwavering support for his son:
“Those who speak badly about my son should take a closer look at themselves and those around them. Lamine is the greatest thing I have, and I believe he is also one of the greatest things we’ve seen in football.”
The incident has sparked widespread criticism and reportedly prompted an investigation by Spain’s Ministry of Social Justice. Despite the controversy, Yamal has returned to first-team training as Barcelona prepares for their preseason tour and the upcoming 2025–26 campaign.
Last season, the Spanish forward delivered an exceptional performance, tallying 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions for FC Barcelona.
“Winning the Champions League and the World Cup” – Lamine Yamal outlines his goals for the season
Now wearing Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 jersey after signing a contract extension through 2031, Lamine Yamal has set his sights on major silverware. In a recent interview, the teenage sensation shared his ambitions for the coming year (via Barca Universal on X):
“My goals for this new season? Winning the Champions League and the World Cup. These are my goals now.”
Yamal came close to helping Barça reach their first UEFA Champions League final since 2015, but the team narrowly lost to Inter Milan 7–6 on aggregate in the semifinals. Despite the setback, the Catalan club completed a domestic treble, positioning them as strong contenders in next season’s European campaign.
On the international stage, Yamal is expected to play a pivotal role for Spain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
