The tension of the Clasico did not end at the final whistle. While Real Madrid enjoyed their success against Barça, images of an angry Dani Carvajal, insulting Lamine Yamal, made the rounds on the networks. The Merengue captain attacked the Catalan prodigy, guilty in his eyes of having spoken too much before the meeting. An episode which quickly turned into a national controversy in Spain, between provocation, youth and respect.
The flashback signed Gaspart
And it was from the Catalan side that the response came. Not by the current leaders of the club, but by a historic voice: Joan Gaspart. The former president of Barça (2000-2003) did not mince his words on
The Pose. “Who is Carvajal to attack a kid? He was a great player, but he’s finished now.” The tone is set. Behind this release, a clear message: Barça will not let anyone humiliate their jewel. Gaspart took the opportunity to defend Yamal, while reminding that he had not targeted anyone in particular in his pre-Clasico statements.
Because that’s where the fire started. A few days before the match, Yamal, in the middle of a conversation about the Kings Leaguehad slipped a dig at Madrid, accused of “stealing and complaining”. Words thrown in a joking tone, but which were enough to put the Madrilenians in turmoil. After the match, Carvajal and Vinicius provoked him, under the cameras, in a scene that went viral.
Barça: Yamal supported by Gaspart against Carvajal
Lamine Yamal caught in turmoil
Faced with this storm, the Blaugrana camp showed solidarity. Gaspart, while reframing Carvajal, gave his young compatriot some advice:
“They were wrong to present him too early as the best in the world. He could become one, but he still has to grow.”
A word of experience which, beyond public defense, reflects a desire to protect Yamal without giving it further media coverage.
For Hansi Flick, who is trying to keep his jewel between La Liga and the Champions League, this position is not trivial. It places the debate on the ground of maturity and the collective framework. “If he's not 100%, he needs to rest,” continued Gaspart, calling on Barça to manage their talent firmly.
A case symptomatic of a Clasico still burning
The Carvajal-Yamal episode is ultimately just a reflection of a Clasico where every gesture, every word, goes beyond the simple sporting framework. Behind the words of a former president hides a political message: Barça protects its symbols, even off the field. And if Gaspart “put the Madrid captain in his place”, it is also to remind us that the rivalry between the two Spanish giants will never die out, whatever the generation.
