Rocafonda is the hometown of Lamine Yamal, a 16-year-old Barcelona winger who has rapidly developed in his football career. He made his first-team debut at the age of 15 years, nine months, and 16 days, becoming the club’s youngest player in over 90 years. He has since become the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history. Yamal’s talent has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi, and there is a strong connection between him and Rocafonda, which is his “family and emotional core.” The neighborhood is part of Mataro, a town located about 40 minutes up the coast from Barcelona. It is a humble neighborhood in a region of prosperous cities. Yamal used to play on a concrete football court in Rocafonda, which is a popular spot for children who cannot afford to join local clubs. The court is marked with graffiti, including the local postcode “08304,” which Yamal referenced when celebrating his first goal for Barcelona. Yamal has strong ties to Rocafonda, with many members of his family still living there. His grandmother, Fatima, was the first to move from Morocco to Spain, and his uncle Abdul runs a bakery in the neighborhood. The bakery has become popular among children who come to buy snacks after playing football. Yamal’s mother also played a crucial role in his football journey. After his parents separated, she took him to live in a neighboring city where she met Inocente Diez, who encouraged her to sign Yamal up for La Torreta, a local club. Yamal’s talent was quickly recognized, and he eventually joined Barcelona at the age of seven. Despite moving to Barcelona’s youth academy, Rocafonda remained his home, and he maintained a strong connection to the neighborhood. Rocafonda is a neighborhood with a mix of new and older buildings, and it has faced some challenges over the years. It has a reputation for violence and squatters occupying vacant buildings. However, residents see the neighborhood’s potential and acknowledge its limitations.
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