A Clear Compliment for Lamine Yamal

In his interview on El Partidazo de COPE, Thibaut Courtois spoke openly about Lamine Yamal, one of the brightest young stars in world football.

“For me, Lamine is a great player and someone who will define an era at Barça,” the Real Madrid goalkeeper said, offering high praise for the 18-year-old winger.

Courtois also acknowledged that Lamine’s comments before the Clásico — made during an appearance in the Kings League — added tension to the build-up. Still, he downplayed any controversy, insisting it’s normal for media pressure to grow around a player with such influence on and off the pitch.

A Sharp Message for Barcelona

Then came the comment that sparked debate. Courtois admitted that Madrid still carried the frustration of last season’s defeats against FC Barcelona:

“We lost four times last year. Sometimes you need to bring that fire back, to feel that desire to go after your rival.”

And his strongest remark was unmistakable:

“When they’ve beaten us, they haven’t respected us either.”

The Belgian explained that in a high-adrenaline match like a Clásico, players often express things they later reconsider — but insisted that this intensity is part of the rivalry’s identity. For him, it’s simply the nature of the fixture.

No Issues With Lamine Off the Pitch

Despite the heated atmosphere, Courtois was adamant that there is no personal conflict with Lamine Yamal.

“Tomorrow Carvajal or Dean could meet Lamine with the national team and there would be zero problems. These things stay on the pitch,” he said.

He even admitted that if he ran into Lamine at a restaurant, he’d greet him without hesitation. According to Courtois, comments like the ones made before the Clásico serve more as motivation than provocation:

“If you’re a winner, hearing things like that motivates you even more.”