Following his latest injury setback, FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has expressed concern over the “complicated” nature of Lamine Yamal’s groin injury and has refused to set a specific timeline for his return.
The Recurrence of a Troubling Injury
The 18-year-old winger’s injury saga began in September while on international duty with Spain, where he suffered from what Barcelona described as “pubic discomfort.” This initial issue caused him to miss four games for his club. A brief return to action last week, including a full match against Paris Saint-Germain, seemed to have aggravated the problem, leading to a recurrence of the injury.
Flick’s Call for Patience
In a recent press conference, Flick emphasized the unpredictable nature of this type of injury. “This injury is not so easy, like a muscle [injury], we have this experience with [those], the coaches, the therapists,” he stated. “With this kind of injury, it’s not easy to say now, okay, he can play in two weeks, in three weeks or four weeks… we have to go step by step and have to see how his evolution is.”
Flick’s comments highlight the delicate balance between a young player’s desire to return and the need to protect his long-term health. The coach’s cautious approach is likely influenced by the recent injury troubles of other young Barcelona stars, such as Pedri and Gavi, who have faced similar physical overload issues.
A Growing Spat with the Spanish National Team
The situation has also created a public disagreement between Flick and Spain’s national team coach, Luis de la Fuente. Flick had previously criticized the Spanish federation for what he felt was an irresponsible handling of Yamal’s initial injury, alleging that the player was given pain-killing injections to play despite being in discomfort. De la Fuente has since defended his team’s actions, stating that they take “zero risks” with players’ health.
Potential Return and Impact
While Barcelona has officially announced a two-to-three-week absence for Yamal, his participation in upcoming matches, including the highly anticipated El Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26, is now in doubt.
In Yamal’s absence, Barcelona will rely on other attacking options like Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and on-loan forward Marcus Rashford. His prolonged absence is a significant blow to the team, given his crucial role as a creative force and his recent status as the runner-up for the Ballon d’Or.
