Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has spoken about his family’s immigrant roots, describing the hardships faced by his grandmother and mother before he was born.

In an interview with Jose Ramon de la Morena on Resonancia de Corazón, the 18-year-old recalled how his grandmother travelled from Morocco to Mataró in Catalonia.

“My grandmother sneaked onto the bus from Morocco and managed to get to Mataró. She started working three shifts so my father could come because he stayed in Morocco, and when my grandmother made some money, she paid a woman to bring my father and his sister, who came when they were 3 years old,” he said.

Yamal explained that his mother, Sheila, came to Barcelona from Guinea with her own mother. “My mother came from Guinea with my grandmother to Barcelona. And my parents met here, so we started living in a residence for young parents, which was like a dining room and everything,” he said.

He added that the family often lived in shared accommodation. “After that, we always lived the typical way where a friend has a house and lets you use a room, until my parents separated. Then he went to live with my grandmother and my mother with me in Granollers.”

Yamal has established himself as one of Europe’s top young players, said his success has allowed him to help his family. “I asked my mother what area she wanted, and she chose the house herself. It has everything I could want. To me, she’s my queen; she’s what I love most.”

He added: “I see that my brother can have the childhood I would have wanted, and that’s what makes me happiest. I see my father and my grandmother relaxing in their homes. It’s everything a child could wish for.”