Yamal on Moroccan and Guinean roots, relationship with mother – ‘She’s my queen’

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has opened up on his family roots, an example of a child of a third culture. The 18-year-old Spain star has Moroccan and Guinean heritage, and has explained how his family came together in Mataro, a town a short way up the coast from Barcelona.

The teenage forward is deeply rooted in Mataro, and celebrates his goals by signing ‘305’ with his hands, a reference to the postcode of his area in town, where he spent hours outside honing his touch. However he is equally proud of the heritage of his parents.

Lamine Yamal has worn boots, including while playing for Spain, with the flags of Morocco and Guinea on them. His Morrocan roots come from his father’s side.

“The first to arrive was my grandmother, who sneaked onto the bus from Morocco and managed to get to Mataro. She started working three shifts so my father could come because he stayed in Morocco, and when my grandmother made some money, she paid a woman to bring my father and his sister, who came when they were 3,” he told Jose Ramon de la Morena on Resonancia de Corazon.

Meanwhile his mother made her way to Mataro from Guinea.

“My mother came from Guinea with my grandmother and they arrived in Barcelona. And my parents met here, so we started living in a residence for young parents, which was like a dining room and everything. After that, we always lived… typical of a friend who has a house and lets you use a room until my parents separated. Then he went to live with my grandmother and my mother with me in Granollers. I went to school, came back, went to training, and saw my mother at night, when she came back from training.”

He went on to explain that that he was eternally grateful for the life that his mother, Sheila Ebana, had given him.

“My mother couldn’t be with me much because of work, but she always made me dinner when she came home at night. I bought her a house wherever she chose; she’s my queen, she deserves everything, and that’s what I want most in this world.”

“I remember she bought me the PlayStation 4, which meant everything to me at the time. I had a second-hand PlayStation 2 and 3, and a good old 4. Now I play the PlayStation 5 a lot: I have a friend from La Masia called Bryan, and we’re always playing and having a great time. I could have the biggest mansion in the world, and I’ll always have the PlayStation 4 in my living room.”

Lamine Yamal spent a portion of his teenage years living at La Masia too, and was doing so when he made his debut for Barcelona at the age of 15. Since, it is believed that Lamine Yamal has now moved into a place near the Ciutat Esportiva training ground with his cousin Moha.