Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has shared that he grew up looking up to former club icons  Neymar and Lionel Messi, admitting that these two players had a significant impact on him during his childhood.

“I have two football icons: Messi and Neymar,” said Yamal as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

Yamal expressed his amazement at the number of fans he has gained in his first full season with Barcelona.

He feels especially touched when he sees kids in his neighbourhood wearing shirts with his name on them. This brings him immense joy because it reminds him of his own childhood when he admired Messi and Neymar in the same way.

“Whenever I go to the neighbourhood and see that there are children who want to look like me or I see a child wearing my shirt.

“It seems incredible to me because when I was little I looked at Messi or Neymar, and seeing those children now pay attention to me is something amazing,” he added.

For Yamal, Neymar’s playing style was something he admired a lot and on the other hand, he looked up to Messi because, in his eyes, Messi is the best player in the world.

“Neymar because of his amazing style, I enjoyed watching him and Messi because he is the best player in history for me.”

Are Messi and Yamal similar?

Lamine Yamal has been compared to Lionel Messi. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

De Bruyne was instrumental in Man City winning the league for the fourth time in a row.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabian football players’ WAGs have already disclosed the challenges they encountered while relocating there.

A number of people confided in MailOnline earlier this year about their struggles with Saudi culture, exposing their fears of going out in public, their nervousness over what to wear, and their sense of being threatened if they become too laid back and becoming “too Western.”

Their disclosure painted a startling image of social anxiety, dressing anxiety, and even a sense of being endangered if they loosen up and become ‘too Western’.

‘It’s quite challenging for expat women in Saudi Arabia, especially if the locals feel that you are not dressed appropriately,’ stated a WAG. I was once called names only for having part of my legs and shoulders exposed.

Despite the heat, we are not permitted to wear shorts in public. They aren’t even appropriate for the beach. And when you do, it seems like everyone despises you. It can be really frightening.

One of the top players in the world is De Bruyne, and as the Saudi Pro League looks to expand, it’s believed that it is targeting players who are toward the end of their careers rather than those who are nearing the beginning.

Before Christmas, Michael Emenalo, the Pro League’s sports director, was present at a Man City training session during the Club World Cup and was closely monitoring De Bruyne.

In 2012, Emenalo recruited De Bruyne from Genk to Chelsea, and he would once more need to be involved heavily should the Belgian be persuaded to leave the Premier League winners.

De Bruyne has already witnessed former teammates Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte leave City for Saudi Arabia, and this summer, the Pro League is showing interest in City goalkeeper Ederson.