Lamine Yamal reveals how Marcus Rashford learned El Clasico lesson during Barcelona loan

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has shared insight into how Marcus Rashford adapted to the fierce nature of El Clásico during his season-long loan spell with the Catalan club from Manchester United.

Rashford played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s title-winning campaign before returning to Old Trafford upon the expiration of his loan agreement. While speaking with Movistar, Yamal reflected on the contrasting performances delivered by the England international across his two league encounters with Real Madrid.

A Tale of Two Clásicos

According to Yamal, Rashford took some time to truly grasp the unique magnitude and hostility surrounding Spanish football's biggest fixture after struggling in his debut at the Santiago Bernabéu.

“Rashford’s first Clásico, which we lost 2-1 at the Bernabéu, I saw him play and thought, he still doesn’t know what a Clásico is,” Yamal admitted.

However, the reverse fixture at Camp Nou told a drastically different story, with Rashford delivering a standout display punctuated by a stunning set-piece.

“Then, in the second leg, he realized what a Clásico was all about, scoring a free kick and playing with a completely different intensity,” Yamal added. “When you come from La Masia, from your very first Clásico, you know what it’s all about, and you know that match is a battle.”

Rashford’s memorable free-kick against Real Madrid stood out as one of the highlights of Barcelona’s campaign, with the forward previously revealing that he only opted to shoot after encouragement from his teammates on the pitch.