Barcelona star Lamine Yamal responds to Bukayo Saka message as dream Arsenal scenario denied

Lamine Yamal has sent a clear Barcelona response to Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal star's glowing verdict of him. Despite being knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage, both wingers have lit up this season's competition.

For Saka, it was his mature display against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu that stole the headlines. Just a few weeks later, Yamal put in a sensational performance against Inter to drag his side back into the tie after falling behind.

Unfortunately, football fans will not get to see their brilliance on the biggest stage in Munich as

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Like many aspiring young footballers, it appears that both have a special bond with Thierry Henry. The Saka link is very clear and it would seem as though Yamal also admires him alongside perhaps a hidden love for Arsenal.

Following Barcelona's chaotic 3-3 semi-final first leg stalemate at home to Inter,

"I'm going to watch the [El] Clasico [Barcelona vs Real Madrid]," the Arsenal icon began. "Would it be possible for you to give me your shirt, for my son?"

Yamal replied: "I'll have to do a swap, you have mine and I'll have yours."

"The Barça one, I suppose?," Henry fired back.

"Barcelona, the Arsenal shirt, whichever one you want," the young Spaniard said. Based on that,

"He's top. Honestly, doing what he is doing at his age, what can you say, he's unreal," Saka admitted in an interview with . "It's not normal. No one does it. I don't think I've seen that level for a 17-year-old, so credit to him."

With Saka making his feelings on Yamal perfectly clear, a response from the 17-year-old was expected and has now arrived.

Asked to name his favourite player outside of Barcelona by , he said: “Right now, I think [Ousmane] Dembele or Bukayo Saka are doing really well.”

He is some way off winning the golden boot for this campaign's tournament but winning the whole thing would surely make up for that.

The final between PSG and Inter is set for Saturday, May 31 at Allianz Arena. It could very easily have been Arsenal in that position but their focus will now certainly be on the summer transfer window.