Barcelona focus on recovering Lamine Yamal’s best form after Injury and Clásico controversy

Since returning from the Spanish national team in early September with pubic problems, Lamine Yamal has struggled to reach his usual dazzling level. The young prodigy from Rocafonda has missed five matches because of the injury and played below his best in the few he managed to feature in.

He made a brief but impressive return against Real Sociedad, delivering a decisive half-hour performance in Hansi Flick’s victory, only to relapse again, missing the clash in Seville. Since then, he has scored just one goal — from a penalty against Olympiacos — and has completed far fewer dribbles than usual, clearly showing signs of discomfort and reduced explosiveness.

A Bitter Clásico and Unwanted Controversy

Lamine endured a difficult night at the Santiago Bernabéu during the Clásico. His pre-match comments on the Kings League, where he jokingly claimed that Real Madrid "rob and complain” in comparison to Ibai Llanos’ Porcinos team, angered many at the Madrid camp. The remarks fuelled tension before the match, with Madrid fans and players determined to make their feelings known.

During the game, Lamine struggled to make an impact and was seen stopping several times to stretch due to his recurring pubic issues. After Real Madrid’s victory, some opposing players even approached him on the pitch, a reflection of how his comments had stirred emotions in the build-up.

Barça’s Priority: Full Recovery and Maturity

At FC Barcelona, the club’s priority is now to help Lamine fully recover from pubalgia and rediscover the form that made him one of the world’s brightest young stars at just 17. The Catalans remain fully confident in him, viewing Lamine as the leader of the future project — the reason he was handed the iconic No.10 shirt.

Internally, however, club officials were unhappy with his remarks before the Clásico, believing they fuelled Madrid’s motivation for revenge after Barça’s four victories over Los Blancos last season. One board member even revealed that some Madrid players requested to play on the left wing just to confront the young winger.

To prevent further distractions, Jorge Mendes, Lamine’s agent, and the club plan to monitor him closely, guiding him to avoid similar off-field controversies and excessive exposure on social media.