Concern has gripped FC Barcelona after it was confirmed that Lamine Yamal is suffering from pubic discomfort, ruling him out of this Sunday’s clash against Valencia and putting him in serious doubt for the Champions League opener against Newcastle. Coach Hansi Flick did not hide his frustration and directly blamed Spain’s national team coach Luis de la Fuente for overloading the young forward.

Flick’s anger with the Spanish national team

At a press conference, Flick was blunt: “He’s not available. He went to the national team with pain and they gave him painkillers so he could play. He was on the pitch for more than 70 minutes in each match, even with a three-goal lead. That’s not looking after the players.”

The 17-year-old winger featured in Spain’s wins over Bulgaria (0-3) and Turkey (0-6), playing 79 and 73 minutes respectively, despite arriving with discomfort. This situation triggered outrage from the German coach, who demanded better communication between club and country.

“Spain has plenty of players in every position. A kid like Lamine needs to be protected more,” added Flick, who admitted he has not yet spoken directly with De la Fuente due to the language barrier.

Which matches could Lamine Yamal miss?

Although Barcelona’s medical staff has not provided an exact recovery time, Flick hinted that the youngster could be sidelined from full training for at least a week. If confirmed, he would miss key fixtures:

• September 14 – LaLiga vs Valencia (Matchday 4)
• September 18 – Champions League vs Newcastle (Matchday 1)
• September 21 – LaLiga vs Getafe (Matchday 5, doubtful)

This means his debut in this year’s Champions League is seriously at risk, a major blow to Flick’s attacking plans.

More injury problems for Barça

Lamine Yamal’s case is not the only headache for the coach. Frenkie de Jong remains unavailable, while Gavi continues a delicate recovery process after knee issues. On the other hand, Raphinha and Ronald Araújo will be fit for the league clash.

As Barcelona looks to get back on track after their draw against Rayo Vallecano, the absence of their young star forces Flick to rely on attacking alternatives, hoping that Lamine Yamal can return to action as soon as possible.