So, Lamine Yamal has gone and done his hamstring again, has he? Look, the kid’s 18. He’s a generational talent, no doubt about it. But let’s n...
So, Lamine Yamal has gone and done his hamstring again, has he?
Look, the kid’s 18. He’s a generational talent, no doubt about it. But let’s not kid ourselves – the modern game chews these lads up and spits them out before they’ve even had a chance to shave properly.
Wednesday night at the Camp Nou. 1-0 up against Celta Vigo. Lamine slots a penalty into the corner like he’s been doing it since he was in nappies. Clinical finish. But then, the moment the ball hits the net, he pulls up. Grabs the back of his leg. Limps off. The silence in the stadium was louder than the roar that had just gone before it.
It’s a sickening feeling, that. You could see it on Flick’s face. The gaffer looked like he’d just been told his car had been clamped on a cold, rainy night in Stoke. Absolute scenes.
The dressing room? According to whispers coming out of the Ciutat Esportiva, the mood is grim. Gavi, that little terrier, was apparently fuming. Not at the lad, but at the situation. The report from GoalZaza says the Barcelona squad are 'nervously awaiting a decisive diagnosis'.
‘He was pissed off,’ is the word on the street. And you would be, too, wouldn’t you? You’re a kid, you’re the golden boy, you’ve just scored a brilliant penalty, and then your own body betrays you. Football’s a cruel mistress.
Hansi Flick must be losing his marbles. He’s already down a few key players. Now his main man, the kid who makes the whole system tick, is hobbling around on one leg. The La Liga title race is on a knife-edge, and Real Madrid are lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce. If Lamine is out for any significant time, Barcelona might as well park the bus and hope for the best.
Is this just a knock, or is it the dreaded ‘grade two strain’? The one that sidelines you for six to eight weeks? The one that kills a bit of momentum just when you’re starting to believe? You can almost hear the collective groan from the culers.
We’re all waiting for the medical report. The scans. The dreaded meeting with the doctor. Until then, it’s all speculation and nervous energy. But one thing’s for certain: if Lamine Yamal is out for the long haul, Barcelona have truly lost the plot. They’ve bottled their luck, and the season might just unravel at the seams.
