As the Champions League semi-final showdown between Barcelona and Inter approaches, the Italian giants are sounding the alarm over one name: Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old wonderkid continues to turn heads in Europe, and Inter’s coaching staff are well aware of the threat he poses.

Speaking after Inter’s narrow but crucial 1–0 Serie A win over Verona on Saturday, assistant coach Massimiliano Farris revealed the club’s growing focus on their European battle with Barça—and how they plan to deal with Yamal.

“We’ll analyse the match carefully and try to find a way to limit him. He’s a fantastic player,” Farris told Sky Sport, underlining the respect Yamal has already earned on the continental stage.

The Nerazzurri are currently fighting for the Serie A title, and while domestic ambitions remain strong, Europe’s biggest prize is clearly on their minds. “More than just the victory, I really liked the intensity and the team’s desire to dominate the game,” Farris said of the Verona performance. “We hardly took any risks and showed the right mentality. I wouldn’t call it a ‘B team’—these are players who simply know each other a bit less.”

That “right mentality” will be crucial if Inter are to stop a Barcelona side full of youthful flair, technical brilliance, and confidence.

“There’s great awareness within the group,” he said. “In Barcelona, we tried to impose our style and exploit some of their issues. We’re aware of their quality, but even reaching the semi-finals is something to be proud of. We’ll do everything we can to reach the final.”

One player who could be sorely missed is Inter’s talisman Lautaro Martinez, whose fitness remains a major concern. When asked about the Argentine striker, Farris admitted: “Right now, it’s more of a no than a yes.”

Barcelona fans will certainly be watching Lautaro’s situation closely, but the Catalan faithful will be even more encouraged by how Yamal continues to force elite clubs into defensive planning. When an assistant coach from a European heavyweight says they’re strategising specifically for a teenager, it’s clear Lamine Yamal isn’t just another rising star—he’s already a problem.

And as the world tunes in for the second leg at the San Siro, all eyes will be on whether Yamal can once again rise above the spotlight—amid Inter’s best-laid plans.