Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has suffered a fresh injury setback after limping out of the Champions League clash with PSG, leaving his availability against Sevilla — and for Spain’s World Cup qualifiers — in serious doubt.
Barcelona’s injury concerns have deepened with reports that Lamine Yamal has suffered a recurrence of his pubic bone problem, casting doubt over his involvement in this weekend’s La Liga clash against Sevilla and Spain’s upcoming international fixtures.
The 18-year-old completed 90 minutes in Barcelona’s Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain but felt renewed discomfort afterwards. According to Mundo Deportivo, initial assessments suggest the winger could face another two to three weeks on the sidelines, mirroring the layoff he endured in September.
Yamal’s injury history and Flick’s frustration
Yamal first picked up the issue after Spain duty last month, forcing him to miss three weeks of action. Barcelona were left furious with the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) handling of the teenager, with head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco voicing their frustration publicly. Flick insisted the national team had pushed the player too hard, comments that sparked a war of words with Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.
De la Fuente has since hit back, questioning Flick’s “lack of empathy” and stressing that World Cup qualification takes priority. “I was simply surprised by those statements because he was a national team coach, and I believed he had that empathy,” the Spain boss said. “We’re playing for the World Cup, that’s what’s really important. The rest isn’t important.”
What it means for Barcelona
The setback leaves Flick with a major selection headache. Yamal had only just returned to full action, featuring briefly against Real Sociedad before starting in Paris. Without him, Barcelona may need to reshuffle their attacking setup once again.
Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford and Raphinha — a 2025 Ballon d’Or nominee — are the most likely options to flank Robert Lewandowski. Flick could also turn to Ferran Torres or teenage talent Roony Bardghji to fill the void on the wings.
Yamal’s latest injury raises serious questions about his workload at such a young age, and Barcelona will be eager to avoid the risk of long-term complications. For now, his absence looms large over both club and country, with Flick and De la Fuente already at odds over who should take responsibility.
