Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has been accused of a lack of professionalism after the 18-year-old pulled his hamstring on Wednesday night, having celebrated an award win two nights earlier.
Alarm bells rang in Spain on Wednesday after Yamal hobbled off with the problem after scoring a penalty during his side's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo, with the European champions now sweating over his availability less than two months before the World Cup gets underway in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that Yamal will miss the rest of the domestic season, but 'is expected to be available for the World Cup', with Spain's campaign opening on June 15 against Cape Verde – a tight turnaround coming just two-and-a-half weeks after Barcelona's final league game.
Two nights before Barcelona took on Celta Vigo, the young forward was celebrating scooping Young Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid. He shared a picture afterwards celebrating with a McDonald's feast on a private jet for the short journey back to Barcelona, a moment which did not go unnoticed by Futbol Total on DSports presenter Juan Furlanich.
'It's unbelievable that Lamine Yamal injured himself taking a penalty kick,' he said. 'And let's put aside the irony or humour, it's completely real: he injured himself taking a penalty kick. Two nights before Barcelona took on Celta Vigo, the young forward was sharing pictures of him eating McDonalds on a private jet. Yamal was in Madrid for the Laureus World Sports Awards, where he scooped Young Sportsman of the Year. Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that Yamal will miss the rest of the domestic season, but 'is expected to be available for the World Cup'.
'A footballer who less than 48 hours ago was jokingly eating fast food while arriving in the early hours of the morning on a private plane, 48 hours before a match. I believe that all of this is not a coincidence, that it is not something that ends up being fortuitous and that ends up being the product of misfortune or bad luck.'
'It has to do with the consequences of probably not being well, not resting well, not taking care of yourself, and taking risks, and ending up with what happened. It's not a stolen photo; he himself boasted about these things.'
Yamal is central to his country's World Cup aspirations, having played a crucial role during their Euro 2024 triumph, while Barcelona are on course to retain their LaLiga title after opening up a nine-point lead on arch-rivals Real Madrid with six games to go.
Yamal expressed his disappointment on social media on Thursday, promising to support the Catalan giants from the sidelines for the remainder of the season.
'This injury leaves me off the field at the time I most wanted to be, and it hurts more than I can explain,' Yamal wrote on Instagram. 'It hurts not being able to fight with my teammates, not being able to help when the team needs me. But I believe in them and I know they're going to give their all in every game.'
'I'll be there, even if it's from the outside, supporting, encouraging and pushing as one more. This is not the end, this is just a break. I'll come back stronger, more eager than ever, and next season will be better. Thanks for the messages and Viva Barca.'
His team-mates all replied to the post with supportive messages, with former Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford writing, 'Get well soon bro'.
