Lamine Yamal has the world at his feet. It’s been like we’ve seen him playing football for a very long period of time, but to imagine the Spanish-born winger is just merely 17 years old is an unfathomable fact to digest.
Last year, he broke all kinds of records, ranging from being the youngest player to debut in La Liga, the Champions League, and Euros 2024 to being the youngest player to score or assist in the same 3 competitions.
To imagine that an individual can achieve all of that in his breakout season at just 16 years old is enormous potential and can only be compared with the top football icons of the world, including the likes of Mr. Barcelona himself, Lionel Messi. Also, he was 15 when he made his Barcelona debut.
At just 17, Lamine is out here doing what most teens his age only dream about: playing with the big boys of Barcelona’s first team, while his classmates are still figuring out the Pythagoras theorem! If he keeps this up, he’ll be asking the veterans for driving lessons between practice drills.
Someone who is so young yet capable of so much on a football field without a doubt can only succeed with a proper mentor in his life. And for Yamal, that has been his Moroccan father, Mounir Nasraoui.
Mounir has been part of Yamal’s footballing journey right from the beginning, starting from ensuring that he gets the requisite training in Barcelona’s youth academy to supporting him through his training, physical health, and even managing his social media in his earlier days.
But why are fans suddenly talking about a Celtic fit that Yamal’s dad wore and recently posted on Instagram? And more importantly, out of all the kits in the world, why did he roll up in Celtic gear?
You’ve got to wonder—did he just grab the first green and white stripes he found in the closet, or is he hinting that the Bhoys could use a bit of Yamal magic in Glasgow? Either way, let’s dive deep into that context a bit more.
Yamal’s Dad—Proud Dad with some expensive Scottish drip?
Mounir must be a proud dad. 35 years old and already raised one hell of a son. At merely 17, Yamal has provided all the perks and benefits that a son would want to give his father, to repay all the efforts a father like Mounir did for the development and growth of his son.
However, when Mounir posted a photo of himself wearing a Celtic tracksuit, fans were quick to speculate about the tracksuit in general and his Scottish ties with The Bhoys.
The tracksuit that the Moroccan was wearing was part of the new Adidas Originals x Celtic FC collection, which was most recently launched by the club and endorsed by Celtic legend and icon Mikael Lustig.
This collection features retro-inspired fits and striking 3-Stripe designs, with tops, hoodies, and tracksuits as its 3 variants.
On the Official Celtic Store page, the jacket can be purchased for £72 and the bottom can be purchased for £64. Whereas on the Adidas Online Store, the jacket costs around £85 and the bottom costs around £75.
The Moroccan, Palestinian and Scottish Link: Why does the young wonderkid’s father support Celtic? The football fandom speculates…
Fans across the internet have had their own bit of speculation around this Celtic attire. Many have first questioned the link between Morocco and Scotland and that out of all the clubs in the world, why would Mounir wear the green and white stripes?
Some have reasoned this with the fact that Celtic has been an open supporter of Palestine and its ongoing conflicts with Israel. This is down to the fact that if we look at Celtic’s history, it was built with the idea of protecting the initial Irish immigrants who moved to Scotland and thus extended that feeling of standing with minorities and groups who have been marginalized or oppressed by other communities.
Thus, throughout the years, they as a club have supported Palestine amidst their conflicts with Israel. Most recently seen at their Champions League play-off vs. Atletico Madrid, where the home faithful waved Palestinian flags as a mark of respect and support.
And for a Moroccan who holds sympathy for his Palestinian companions, fans have speculated that Mounir must equally have a soft spot for The Bhoys and thus must have developed some preference or liking towards the club.
Others have just randomly speculated that he is part of Celtic Fan Associations (might be true, as who doesn’t trust Reddit these days, right?) in the Catalunya city of Barcelona. Take it with a pinch of salt, but there might be something there.
Some fans have also expressed their honest opinions about the design, with many labeling the tracksuit as only looking good on screens and not doing justice in real life. A few groups of people have also liked the design, thus the fit causing a divide between the fans as well.
So, while it’s fun to think Lamine Yamal’s dad might just be the next Celtic ambassador in Barcelona, let’s not forget that we’re all just one meme away from being fashion critics these days. After all, who knew a tracksuit could spark such debate?
It’s almost as if it’s the new “What colour is this dress?” moment for football fans! But hey, whether you love it or hate it, it’s clear that Yamal’s dad is just out here living his best life, blending Celtic pride with Catalan charm. At the end of the day, if you can rock it on the pitch, who cares what the critics say?