El Clásico shock looms with Barcelona jewel Lamine Yamal ruled out amid Spain row

The 18-year-old jewel faces weeks out, igniting tension between Barça and Spain and raising fears over his long-term fitness
FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - LaLiga EA Sports
FC Barcelona v Real Sociedad - LaLiga EA Sports | Pedro Salado/GettyImages

Barcelona got news on Friday that could reshape the next few weeks. Lamine Yamal has suffered a recurrence of pubic pain and will be sidelined for two to three weeks, putting his presence in the El Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26 at the Santiago Bernabéu in serious doubt. At just 18, the brightest hope of the club is now dealing with repeated physical setbacks that are beginning to raise concern.

Recurring injury and a tight calendar

The club confirmed Yamal will sit out this weekend’s clash with Sevilla, and his recovery timeline could take him right up to the Clásico. It’s not a new issue—back in September he missed four straight matches against Valencia, Getafe, Oviedo, and Newcastle with the same problem. He only returned last weekend against Real Sociedad, coming off the bench to set up Lewandowski’s winner.

Just days later, he started against PSG in the Champions League and lasted the full 90 minutes, but once again walked off in pain. Now Barcelona will try to carefully manage his recovery with hopes of having him fit for Madrid. Until then, Flick’s team must navigate Sevilla, Girona, and Olympiacos without their starlet, each game a test of how well the squad can cope in his absence.

Barcelona vs. Spain tensions

The injury has also reignited the club-versus-country debate. Hansi Flick recently criticized Spain for using Yamal in the last international break despite him carrying the same issue, stressing that the teenager came back hurt and then missed four matches. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente pushed back firmly, naming Yamal again in his next squad and dismissing Barça’s complaints.

“Soccer is always played with some discomfort. I won’t give medical details. Nothing happened. It seems he felt some pain after the game, that’s all. I was surprised by Flick’s comments. I thought he would show more empathy, given his own experience as a national team coach,” De la Fuente said.

The exchange highlights the strain between Barcelona and the Spanish federation over the handling of young stars. For Barça, Yamal is already indispensable in attack. For Spain, he’s the symbol of their future. And stuck between the two is an 18-year-old who risks being weighed down by recurring injuries just as his career is taking off.

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