Monchi, the sporting director of RCD Espanyol, has offered some apologies and some explanations for saying Lamine Yamal should win the Ballon d’Or, football’s highest individual honor. Yamal plays for FC Barcelona, Espanyol’s crosstown rivals.
“I was asked a question, and I stirred up a bit of controversy among the Perico fans. I apologize to anyone I offended,“ Monchi said on Spanish radio.
“I was given the choice of Kylian Mbappé (French), Harry Kane (English), or Lamine Yamal (Spanish), and I opted
for the Spanish option.”
Yamal is among the favorites for the award, having won the FIFA World Cup with Spain.
“Obviously, as a Perico, I should have named anyone else,” Monchi mused.
“I didn’t do it out of any malice. I know what it means to have the Perico feeling; I’ve identified with it from day one and felt it on the street. If I offended anyone, I apologize, because it was really just a case of me wearing the Spanish flag.”
Barcelona are due to visit Espanyol at RCDE Stadium in Cornellà de Llobregat on January 3 of next year.
