"He's a real monster." Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni (26) praised FC Barcelona's 17-year-old talent Lamine Yamal. This moment, where he even wore the jersey as a tribute, was more than just simple fan admiration.

On the 9th (Korea time), Bastoni posted a photo of himself in Lamine Yamal's Barcelona jersey on his social media. He also wrote, "Especially noteworthy is a player who is frighteningly excellent. Lamine Yamal, you are truly a MONSTER."

Earlier, on the 7th, Barcelona was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League semifinals with a total score of 6-7 against Inter Milan. However, Lamine Yamal left a solid impression on Inter Milan's first-team defense. At San Siro, Lamine frequently moved freely across both flanks, creating several critical chances, and even struck the crossbar with a long-range shot in the final moments of the second half.

While Inter Milan secured a dramatic 4-3 victory to advance to the final, the name most frequently mentioned in the locker room after the match was 'Yamal.' Bastoni, who directly experienced his performance, highlighted his influence by stating that he "looked like a monster."

Bastoni is known as a technically excellent defender. With a height of 190 cm and the ability to apply pressure from the Chonbang, he faced off against Yamal multiple times in the match. The confrontation between Yamal, trying to protect the ball, and Bastoni, attempting to clear it, was fiercely repeated throughout the game. After the match, Bastoni even wore the opposing player's jersey without hesitation.

According to reports, just before the match, the Inter Milan players evaluated Lamine Yamal as "one of the most difficult players to stop," and that assessment proved accurate during the game. Immediately after the match concluded, Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi remarked, "Every time I faced Yamal, if I was careless, there was an immediate risk of conceding. I can't believe he's still a teenager."

At just 16 years old, Yamal has secured a starting position in Barcelona's first team and has recorded the most successful dribbles and entries into the penalty box among teenagers in this season's Champions League. He confirmed his potential by creating several threatening moments even against Inter Milan's top-level European defense.

Ultimately, the winner that day was Inter Milan, but Yamal once again engraved his name in the hearts of football fans worldwide.

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