Rafael van der Vaart has continued his exchange with Lamine Yamal, but has told the teenager “not to worry about a former player who’s a bit too fat”.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ex-Madrid star questioned youngster's antics
• Teen sensation bit back on social media
• Van der Vaart is a big fan and meant no harm

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ex-Netherlands international Van der Vaart, who spent time in Spain during his playing days with Real Madrid, started a war of words when suggesting that Barcelona wonderkid Yamal is – at 17 years of age – beginning to believe his own hype and act slightly petulantly at times.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal responded to that jibe after helping Spain to overcome Dutch opposition in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. He posted on social media, having been told that he is starting to wear his trousers “a little lower”: “Pants down, a goal, missed penalty AND IN THE SEMIFINALS HEHEHEHE GO SPAIN!”

• WHAT RAFAEL VAN DER VAART SAID

  Van der Vaart has entered the debate once more, telling of why his initial comments have been blown out of proportion: “I would advise him not to worry about a former player who is a bit too fat. It is completely unimportant. I mean well. When you're 17 and you get so much praise, you start to believe that the whole world revolves around you. We've all been there, but the world doesn't revolve around you. Football is fun, but not important. If you think you're God, you become a less fun person.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Van der Vaart added on the reaction to his words, with Yamal clearly one of the hottest prospects in world football: “There (in Spain) people get angry. Nice and angry. I don't really care. The bomb exploded. But I was actually not aware of any wrongdoing. I said I see mannerisms, but they act like I think he's really bad. I think he's a great player. Hopefully he stays grounded.”

Tags: Futebol
Category: News