Overview
- Lamine Yamal, 18, is out with a recurrent groin/pubic issue after the PSG match and will miss Spain’s upcoming qualifiers, with reports projecting up to three weeks on the sidelines.
- Kylian Mbappé told Jorge Valdano on Movistar that people should ‘leave him alone,’ stressing Yamal’s age and asking that judgment be based on his performances on the pitch.
- Barcelona president Joan Laporta pledged the club will protect and guide Yamal, praising his maturity and discipline as he follows medical instructions.
- Tension persists between Barcelona and Spain after the club withdrew Yamal from the national squad, following earlier criticism from Hansi Flick over how his condition was handled.
- Rival and former players, including Unai Simón and David Villa, lauded Yamal’s talent but urged tempered expectations, as concerns about workload and burnout continue after roughly 130 senior games by age 18.