Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has expressed uncertainty over Lamine Yamal’s return timeline following a recurrence of the teenager’s groin injury during the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Although the club initially announced a 2 to 3 week absence, Flick has since indicated that recovery may take longer.
“This injury is not so easy,” Flick said. “It’s not like a muscle injury. We can’t say now whether he’ll be ready in two, three, or four weeks. We need to go step by step.”
The 18-year-old forward, who had only just returned from a similar injury sustained on international duty in September, will now train with the club’s recovery staff in the coming weeks. His availability for the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26 remains uncertain.
Yamal will also miss Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Flick appeared critical of the Spanish national team setup, revealing that Yamal had previously played through pain using injections, and emphasised the importance of protecting the player moving forward.
“I don’t regret what I said. I want to protect my players,” Flick added. “We have to manage this together, clubs and the federation.”
