Marco van Basten insists Barcelona must change Lamine Yamal’s position after Inter defeat

Dutch legend Marco van Basten has urged Barcelona to change Lamine Yamal’s position following their Champions League exit against Inter Milan.

The 17-year-old sensation provided another dazzling display at San Siro on Tuesday night in an unforgettable semi-final decider between the two European giants.

Yamal was a constant danger with his dribbling bewildering Inter’s defence despite doubling up on the youngster.

His 14 successful dribbles was the most recorded by a player in a single Champions League match since Neymar eight years ago.

He  was equally impressive in last week’s first leg, scoring his side’s sensational opener.

With his stock soaring again over the last week having also starred for Spain at last summer’s European Championships, Yamal is already perhaps the best winger in the game with many already regarding him as the next Ballon d’Or winner.

Van Basten, who won football’s most prestigious individual three times during his legendary career, was among those blown away by Yamal’s performances across two legs against Inter.

But the former striker believes Barcelona and head coach Hansi Flick should already be considering moving the teenager into a more central role where he can take ‘the next step’.

‘It’s actually a shame that he plays there, because he doesn’t get the ball enough,’ van Basten told Ziggo Sport.

‘Of course he is a constant threat on the right. But if he plays in the centre, he has much more influence on the game and he can mean even more to the team. And I think that is the next step.

‘He can score goals, give crosses, put people in front of the goal. We know that by now.

‘The next step should be: what is his influence on the team in the end? Such a good player should play much more in the centre of the field.’

Yamal has played exclusively on the right wing for Barcelona this season, scoring 15 goals and laying on 24 assists in 51 appearances.

While their European dream is over for another season, Barcelona are four points clear at the summit of La Liga with four games remaining ahead of a huge Clasico with Real Madrid on Sunday.

Victory will effectively seal the title for the Catalan giants.

‘We gave it our all — this year it couldn’t be, but we’ll be back, have no doubt about it,’ Yamal wrote.

‘Culers, we won’t stop until we put this club where it belongs: at the very top. I will keep my promise and bring it to Barcelona; we won’t stop until we achieve it.

‘But Sunday is another final, and we all need to be together. Visca el Barça!’