Jose Mourinho plays mind games: Says he prefers Nico Williams to Lamine Yamal Any Day!”

Barcelona fans, hold onto your churros! The ever-controversial José Mourinho has reignited the flames of the Clasico rivalry with a sly dig aimed at Barcelona’s newest prodigy, Lamine Yamal.

Fresh off his Europa League victory with Fenerbahçe, Mourinho couldn’t resist tossing a grenade into the transfer market frenzy. Speaking to COPE, the Portuguese manager offered his opinion on the two young Spanish wingers who tore up Euro 2024: Spain’s breakout star Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

“In the Euros,” Mourinho began, his voice dripping with a hint of mischief, “people were all ‘Yamal, Yamal, Yamal’. He’s a wonderful boy, but I, personally, prefer more of Nico [Williams].”

Ouch. That’s a low blow aimed squarely at Barcelona’s pride. Yamal, a 17-year-old La Masia graduate, has taken Europe by storm with his dazzling footwork and electrifying pace.1 Barca fans were already dreaming of a future Messi-esque reign for the youngster.

But Mourinho, never one to shy away from a good stir, threw his weight behind Yamal’s La Liga rival, Nico Williams. The 22-year-old Athletic Bilbao winger might not have the same hype surrounding him, but Mourinho’s endorsement carries significant weight. Could this be a subtle hint towards his old club, Real Madrid?

The “White House” certainly knows a thing or two about poaching talent from their bitter rivals. Remember Figo? Even more recently, Real Madrid swooped in for Vinicius Junior, another La Masia product who has become a star at the Bernabéu.

Is Mourinho playing mind games? Or does he genuinely see a more complete player in Nico Williams? One thing’s for sure, his comments have ignited a firestorm on social media. Barca fans are in uproar, while Madridistas are basking in the reflected glory.

Will Nico Williams become the next Bernabéu hero? Or will Yamal silence the doubters and become a legend at Camp Nou? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for certain: the rivalry between these two La Liga giants just got a whole lot more interesting.