Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge was difficult for FC Barcelona on multiple fronts. Beyond the 3-0 defeat, the match highlighted a growing concern within the club regarding their crown jewel, Lamine Yamal.
The 18-year-old, still recovering from a lingering pubalgia that has sidelined him for five games, was far from his best in London.
While his physical recovery is being managed with a specific plan, there is a worrying trend that Barcelona appear to have witnessed.
Barcelona worried about Yamal’s image
According to Diario SPORT, Lamine Yamal is fast becoming “public enemy number one” at every stadium he visits – something that has Barcelona worried.
The hostility was palpable at Stamford Bridge, mirroring similar treatment during the recent trip to Club Brugge, with a Chelsea star even taking a swipe at the attacker after the game.
Most notably, this tension boiled over during El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, ending in a brawl where Real Madrid veterans Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois aggressively targeted the youngster.
Are Barcelona right to worry about Yamal’s image? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
According to the report, Barcelona are concerned about this shifting image. Lamine Yamal, after all, is not just a player; he is the face of the club.
Since inheriting the iconic number 10 shirt, he has become the club’s undisputed commercial leader, shattering merchandise records and generating revenue streams.
However, the club hope for him to emulate Messi’s aura in another way: universal admiration.
While Messi was feared, he was often respected – even adored – by rival fans for his brilliance.
Barcelona’s hierarchy is wary of Lamine developing a villainous reputation that could subject him to harsher treatment from opponents and hostile crowds, potentially impacting his development and marketability.
For now, though, Barcelona are hoping Yamal recovers his full fitness soon and starts playing a bigger role in attack in the weeks to come.
