Every time Lamine Yamal scores, he holds up his fingers to signal the quantity 304 – the postcode of Rocafonda, the modest Catalan district the place he grew up, which is bursting with pleasure over the 16-year-old’s success in Euro 2024.
It’s not but noon, however there’s a actual buzz contained in the native bar, El Cordobes, which remains to be reeling with pleasure after Yamal, who used to return in together with his dad, clutching a soccer, shot dwelling the chic objective in opposition to France that helped propel Spain to Sunday’s Euro 2024 ultimate.
For years, folks right here to the north of Barcelona knew he was completely different however no person may have predicted the lad would go on to develop into the youngest participant to attain in a European Championship.
“We knew he was going to play with Barcelona’s first team,” bar proprietor Juan Carlos Serrano says with a proud smile.
“But we had no idea would have the kind of impact he’s having now.”
On the wall behind him is a framed Barcelona shirt signed by Yamal that his father gave Serrano as thanks for his help through the years when the pair used to go to the bar earlier than taking the practice into the town for him to coach with the membership’s youth crew – till he signed with their famed La Masia youth academy.
That was the final day Yamal got here into the bar, however not the final time he got here again to this district of Mataro, a metropolis of 130,000 those that lies 30 kilometers (18 miles) up the coast from Barcelona the place he spent a few of his childhood and the place many locals proudly exhibit photographs with him.
After his mother and father separated, Yamal lived between the close by city of Granollers and Mataro, however his fixed visits to his grandmother, who arrived from Morocco a long time in the past and nonetheless lives in Rocafonda, has saved up his ties to the neighborhood the place his father is greeted as an area hero.
Just again from Germany, the place he watched Spain’s semi-final victory over France, his neighbors are crowding round to congratulate him over his son’s gorgeous objective, which he nonetheless will get enthusiastic about.
“I lived every moment in that stadium just like any other Spanish fan, going crazy,” says Mounir Nasraoui exuberantly standing within the doorway of the bar.
And he’ll quickly be going again, with extra to have a good time. His son turns 17 on Saturday, and on Sunday, he is hoping for victory within the ultimate in opposition to England.
“As a father, I am proud, happy and grateful,” he mentioned, thanking his neighbors for his or her help.
“This neighborhood is proud of being the place where Lamine Yamal comes from.”
‘We have a star right here!’
Several streets away, the blazing solar shouldn’t be sufficient to cease the children from taking part in soccer on an area pitch the place Yamal too spent hours taking part in when he was small.
Everyone desires to be like him on this neighborhood which is thrown into the limelight each time the younger star participant indicators its 304 postcode.
“People get really excited about Lamine Yamal because nothing like this has ever happened here before,” explains Mamadou Sow, 32, who works in catering.
“That gives the kids even more desire to do sports and other things,” he advised Agence France-Presse (AFP), saying he was overjoyed to “finally” see the neighborhood, which has are available for some detrimental press in recent times, being talked about on TV for constructive causes.
“It’s exciting.”
Life has not been easy on this district on the outskirts of Mataro whose postcode is 08304 and which has a big immigrant inhabitants and a decrease revenue than different extra prosperous neighborhoods.
“We’ve always had a bad reputation for crime and other things, and to have someone so important shedding a different light on the neighborhood is really positive,” mentioned Rocio Escandell, head of the Rocafonda residents’ affiliation.
Despite his youth, Yamal has lengthy been commemorated in his childhood dwelling.
Outside the bakery that his uncle used to run by the native soccer pitch is a big painted picture of him sporting a Barca shirt, his arms crossed and fingers signing the quantity 304.
Jauad Darraz, the brand new proprietor, is finishing up renovations so he can open a brand new bar.
But there are some issues he doesn’t intend to alter.
“We’re changing everything except the picture,” he grins, referring to the portray.
“I like it because Lamine Yamal is from the neighborhood. We have a star here!.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com