Espanyol's Monchi apologizes for Ballon d'Or comments on Yamal

Monchi, the sporting director of RCD Espanyol, has apologized for saying Lamine Yamal should win the Ballon d'Or. Yamal, a star for FC Barcelona, is a leading candidate after winning the FIFA World Cup with Spain. During a radio interview, Monchi expressed that he intended no offense to Espanyol fans when he chose Yamal over Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane. He acknowledged the sensitivity of supporting a player from a rival club, stating, 'I should have named anyone else.' Espanyol will host Barcelona at RCDE Stadium on January 3, 2027.

• 1:00 AMYahoo Sports — Espanyol sporting director apologizes for saying Lamine Yamal should win Ballon d’Or