Sports
Van Bronckhorst Tips Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or Ahead of Feyenoord's Champions League Clash with Barcelona
Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst returned to the Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday, more than ten years after helping FC Barcelona lift the UEFA Champions League title in Paris as a player. The former Dutch international will lead his Feyenoord team against Hansi Flick's Barcelona on Wednesday night in their opening match of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the fixture, Van Bronckhorst reflected warmly on his time at the club, saying he was pleased to return, this time as a coach rather than a player. "I have very good memories. I played here for four years and it was a very beautiful period. It was a dream to come here," he said, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Feyenoord boss also praised Barcelona's young forward Lamine Yamal, whom he considers a future Ballon d'Or winner. His comments came on the same day the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or were revealed, with Yamal among the contenders alongside teammates Pau Cubarsi and Rodri.
"He's a player who, at his age, has already won so much. People come to the stadium specifically to watch Lamine," Van Bronckhorst said. "He has the quality to win the Ballon d'Or. The question is when he'll win it. He has the potential, without any doubt," he added.
Looking ahead to the match, Van Bronckhorst acknowledged that his side would likely spend long spells defending against Barcelona but said he wants his team to maintain their attacking approach rather than retreat into a purely defensive posture. "We're facing a team that will push us back. We'll have to stay alert. We have to be brave and try to have the ball as much as possible," he said. "Keeping possession against such a good team is difficult, but it's a very nice challenge. We have to give the best possible account of ourselves."
He added, "We don't have to park the bus," emphasizing that Feyenoord would not simply sit back and defend throughout the match.
Van Bronckhorst, who has recently watched Barcelona play, including their commanding win over Valencia, spoke highly of Flick's squad. "Everyone knows that Barcelona play very good football, perhaps they're the best team at the moment. They create a lot of chances," he said.
He also suggested that Barcelona are edging closer to achieving their top European ambition. "They've won two leagues and they want to win the Champions League. That's the next step they want to take," he said. "The Champions League was the greatest achievement of my career. It's special for every player. The moment when they win it is getting closer and closer," he concluded.