Legandary Real Madrid midfielder praises Barcelona’s style and admits no one can stop club prodigy | OneFootball

Real Madrid icon Toni Kroos may be a club legend at the Santiago Bernabeu, but even he could not hide his admiration for Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and the bold footballing style Hansi Flick has brought to the Catalan giants.

Speaking with sincerity and respect, Kroos lauded the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy, admitting just how difficult he is to handle, even for the best in the world.

“Honestly, it’s very difficult to stop Lamine Yamal right now,” Kroos admitted in a recent interview (h/t FCB World).

“Dribbling is already tough, but when he cuts inside and plays a through ball when everyone expects him to dribble — that’s something really challenging for defenders.”

Kroos praised Yamal’s intelligence and maturity beyond his years, pointing out his uncanny ability to always find the right pass and keep himself involved in the play.

Toni Kroos has nothing but praise for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

According to the German veteran, Yamal’s stats speak volumes: “He has 25 assists or something like that this season.”

But beyond his technical quality, what stood out most for Kroos was Yamal’s leadership. He recalled how, despite trailing 0-2 against Inter, the youngster inspired his teammates at halftime with his energy and belief — a rare trait for a player so young.

“Even under pressure, he was still enjoying the game, still demanding the ball,” Kroos said. “This is a 17-year-old we’re talking about.”

Impressed with Barcelona’s style

While the praise for Yamal was glowing, Kroos was equally appreciative of how Barcelona approached their recent clashes with Inter under Flick.

Despite being behind in both legs, the Blaugrana refused to back down and played with a level of intensity and quality that clearly impressed the midfield maestro.

“Barcelona defend high up the pitch, which naturally leaves them open against strong teams — hence conceding seven goals across both legs,” he noted.

Kroos also admired Hansi Flick’s style. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“But we should enjoy their style. From the 45th minute onwards, they found spaces, they broke through a top-tier defence, and that deserves massive credit.”

Kroos openly saluted Flick for instilling a fearless mentality into this Barcelona side. To take apart a well-drilled Inter defence in back-to-back matches is no easy feat, and yet Barça did so with flair, composure, and total belief.

“In the first leg, they were trailing 0-2, and in the second leg, they were also trailing 0-2. And usually, against Inter, you can’t come back. Because they have a very strong defence.

“But when you watch the way Barcelona plays football, you have to give a big salute to Hansi Flick and Barcelona for this performance; this is a high level of collective and individual quality.

“This is high-level football, both individually and collectively,” Kroos concluded. And it surprised me how Inter looked weak defensively against them, not just in one match, but in both.”

Coming from a player of Kroos’s stature, this level of praise highlights just how far Barcelona have come under Flick and how special a talent they have in Yamal.

For a Real Madrid legend to so openly acknowledge the brilliance of their greatest rivals is perhaps the clearest sign yet: Barcelona are building something serious, and even their fiercest adversaries are beginning to take notice.