Sergio Aguero talks Flick, Lewandowski, Yamal vs Vinicius, El Clasico – ‘I prefer Yamal because… | OneFootball

Former Barcelona forward Sergio Aguero has a particularly memorable experience of the only El Clasico he played for the club.

During that intense match, he scored a late goal in a 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid at Camp Nou. Tragically, just a week later, his career was cut short due to a heart arrhythmia that forced him into early retirement against Alaves.

Now, as another highly anticipated El Clasico approaches, Aguero has shared his views on Barcelona’s season, its rising talents, and what fans can expect from the upcoming clash.

Thoughts on Barcelona’s start

Sergio Aguero is impressed with Hansi Flick. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

When asked about Barcelona’s start to the season, Aguero was quick to acknowledge the club’s strong tradition of developing young players who consistently bolster the squad.

“Barça always brings out those talents from the youth academy and, with a little polishing, they always end up with a great team.

“The new coach is noticeable. He is quite tough. Without knowing him, you realize that he is quite demanding and that ends up bringing out the best in the players.”

He credits the new coach’s demanding style for bringing out the best in players, particularly young talents like Lamine Yamal. According to Aguero, Yamal’s maturity on the pitch is impressive, especially for a teenager.

“Today, Flick has Lamine Yamal, who is very surprising because, being so young, he does things that look like he is 26 or 28 years old,” he said.

More on Yamal

Aguero feels Yamal is beyond his age. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

While only 17, Yamal showcases a level of skill and game awareness often found in players nearly twice his age. Aguero feels that Yamal’s abilities make him a rare talent, someone who might only improve with the right mental approach and training.

“He has a different vision of the game than a 17, 18 or 20-year-old. When I was a kid, I had my talent, but then you have to keep working on it.

“But there are other things that are natural, of game vision, that come naturally and he has them. He makes passes, opens up the game, plays as part of a team and defends,” he added,

Aguero thinks that Yamal’s versatility in both attack and defence highlights his potential, noting that this adaptability could serve Barcelona well if harnessed effectively by the coaching staff.

“In the Spain-Denmark game, I saw him in the half-half defending. With his talent, the normal thing to do is to stay up there waiting, but you can see that there are others who don’t have it,” he noted.

Yamal vs Vinicius Jr.

Lamine Yamal is a natural talent. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

Comparing Yamal to players like Vinicius Junior, Aguero sees a difference in their styles. While he acknowledges Vinicius’s experience and his importance to Real Madrid, he feels Yamal has an edge in raw talent.

“In style of play, speaking of talent, Lamine has much more than Vinicius although Vinicius has more experience and is more of a player with titles won with Madrid.

“Vinicius is one of the ‘top 3’ in the world but for age and talent, I prefer Lamine more,” he explained.

Given a choice, Aguero would love to see both players on either side of his ideal team, evoking memories of the dynamic Messi-Neymar partnership. To him, this kind of talent spread would be invaluable.

“If it were up to me, I would have one on each side of my team and let the opponent pray. It’s like when Messi and Neymar were together,” he noted.

Thoughts on El Clasico

Sergio Aguero scored in one El Clasico. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Looking ahead to El Clasico, Aguero expects a thrilling encounter.

He gives Barcelona a slight advantage, citing their solid form, but knows Real Madrid has a knack for scoring when it matters most, even with minimal possession.

“I won’t bet but Barça is very good. The field always influences and it will be complicated but they have more chances to win than Madrid although Real don’t even need 20% of the ball and score.

“Why is that so? You don’t know but historically in the last 10 minutes they have things that the rest don’t have,” he said.

Then there is Lewandowski

Aguero feels Lewandowski might play beyond his 40s. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

As a former striker himself, Aguero believes Barcelona’s current striker, Robert Lewandowski, has a lot of football left in him, perhaps enough to play into his forties.

“He might play until he’s 42 or 43. He won’t have the agility he used to have but he’s lively enough to score so many goals. He looks good. He’s going to keep scoring and even more so at Barça, where there are always chances.”

He feels Lewandowski’s sharpness in the box ensures he’ll keep scoring for Barcelona for years to come, even as he ages.

“The striker must be in the area and be mischievous. Today he has no problem. Most of them take care of themselves, except for me who sometimes eats a hamburger,” he concluded.