Under this somewhat provocative article title hides a little concern which is starting to rise on the other side of the Pyrenees. A few weeks ago, Lamine Yamal signed an explosion as astonishing as it was sudden, even establishing himself, for many, as a more than credible candidate for an unassailable starting place in Xavi Hernandez’s eleven. He even made a more than remarkable debut in the selection, with a goal and two good performances under the red and yellow tunic during the last break.
But since then, Xavi has decided to calm things down a little. Starting in the three matches played by Barça before this international break in mid-September, the Spanish nugget did not start any of the four matches that followed. Against Mallorca on Tuesday evening, for example, he played around twenty minutes, even though his team clearly needed a new lease of life in attack. Of course, Lamine Yamal remains an extremely young player and there is not yet necessarily cause for serious concern, but in Spain, this situation is of concern.
A luxury joker?
“What’s going on with Lamine Yamal? »asks Marcawho underlines that the player revolutionized the team when he came into play in the 65th minute of play. A substitute status which is therefore not necessarily in line with his status as Barcelona’s best offensive player at the start of the season , even if it is true that in recent weeks, João Félix has started strong, Raphinha is back at an interesting level and even Ferran Torres has shown good things coming off the bench.
On social networks, many supporters attacked Xavi, not understanding why he had decided to do without Yamal at the start, in a complicated trip, and why he did not enter earlier. “Even if the striker’s performances are satisfactory, he has been relegated to second place”explains for his part Sportwhich nevertheless underlines that this is a normal situation given the age of the player. “We have to take care of him, he is still very young to burn him. You have to be very careful with him”, Xavi justified himself after this duel on Tuesday in Mallorca. Facing Sevilla on Friday, everyone will be particularly attentive to the composition of the former Barcelona midfielder…
