Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Lamine Yamal’s groin injury is more complicated than initially thought, and the 18-year-old’s return to action is uncertain.
The Spanish winger, who had been sidelined earlier this year with a similar injury, now faces a prolonged absence following a recurrence during the UEFA Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
While Barcelona had initially projected that Yamal would be out for two to three weeks, Flick has expressed concerns that the recovery period may be longer.
“This injury is not so simple. It’s not like a regular muscle injury,” said Flick during a press conference on Saturday. “We need to be cautious, as we don’t know exactly when he will be fit to play again. The priority is his full recovery.”
Yamal, who had been recovering from a groin strain suffered while playing for Spain in September, was forced to miss four games before his return last week. The young star, recently named second in the world at the Ballon d’Or, was involved in the clash against PSG, only to aggravate the injury once more.
The forward is now expected to miss Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers and aims for a potential return in time for Barcelona’s crucial Clasico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on October 26.
Flick also expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, to allow Yamal to play against Bulgaria and Turkey while managing the pain with injections.
“I spoke with Yamal, and he told me that his condition is better, but it is not perfect. I don’t regret what I said about protecting my players,” Flick stated. “We need to work together with the federation and make sure this situation is handled carefully.”
