Jorge Mendes, who accompanied Cristiano Ronaldo from his beginnings in soccer, gave an interview to Portuguese media outlet A Bola in which he touched on the current sporting situation of Lamine Yamal, one of his current clients, after the injury suffered by the Spanish international against Celta.
Mendes was clear and direct in telling the Barcelona striker that a player’s lifestyle off the pitch dictates the development of their sporting career. “I normally talk to my players and I ask them: ‘Do you want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi also off the field, or do you want to be…?’ I’m not going to give names, but that’s the difference,” commented the popular agent.
The Portuguese player mentioned the two world football stars in order to try to keep his private life in order off the football field.
“I consider myself privileged. Cristiano is the best player in the history of world football and, at the same time, the best example off the field. This is the model we should pass on to children,” said Mendes.
Without mentioning any names, the football agent gave advice that can be understood to be valid for Lamine Yamal. “Manage your assets, buy a house, help your family,” Mendes said, recommending to all of them that they focus on their lives with solid and long-term projects, before getting involved in gastronomic projects or any commercial venture to make themselves known in consumer society.
The Portuguese commented that taking advantage of opportunities is the key and for this it is important to know how to handle mentality and discipline with good judgment over talent, which is what determines a successful career in the long term. “Many players get lost because they don’t have the right context. They go one or two years without playing and it seems that they are not good, but the problem is not the talent, but the opportunity,” he said.
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