Barca fans are enjoying the rise of a generational talent in Lamine Yamal. However, the 17-year-old has been playing too much lately. The youngster clearly has no backup and this raises a few serious concerns. Has Barca not learned from past mistakes? Are they setting Yamal up for risky situations? Let’s discuss.
Barcelona is Gambling with Lamine Yamal’s Future
Yamal is a generational talent, but the Catalans have been dangerously overusing him this season. While the youngster is undoubtedly a key player in Flick’s side, the club’s overreliance on him is a risky strategy.
Lamine has played too many minutes this season, and this could lead to burnout, physically and mentally. We have seen this before: young stars are burdened with huge expectations only to suffer later. I have to say Yamal’s attitude, work rate, and physical progress over the year have been insanely impressive, but why risk him for short-term benefit?
Ansu Fati Was a Warning—But Is Barca Listening?
Not long ago, Ansu Fati looked to succeed Leo Messi at Barca and was handed over the legendary no. 10 shirt. He was hailed as the next big thing, but excessive game time and lack of careful management led him to devastating injuries. Now, he doesn’t even get the chance to play, let alone be the next big thing.
Similarly, Pedri was overused a lot in his first season at Barca. He played 52 games in his debut season, which mentally and physically exhausted him. The result? Consistent hamstring and muscle injuries in the next two seasons. Luckily, Pedri was able to gather his form and get back to the team, but the same did not happen for Ansu Fati. Now, the big question is, is Barca learning from these previous mistakes in the case of Yamal?
Flick Must Step Up and Protect Lamine Yamal
Lamine deserves breaks and proper nurturing in this current Barcelona side. Hansi Flick has inherited a squad with serious depth issues, and the player rotation options at wingers are non-existent. Yet, he still needs to find a way to protect Yamal and rest him whenever possible.
Flick must step up and ensure Yamal’s talent is groomed rather than exploited. The president and sporting director should also help Flick by signing good wingers in the coming summer transfer window to promote competition and give Flick more options.
If Barca does not act in the coming transfer market, Yamal will face more pressure. The board must look to prioritize bright recruitment not just to protect Lamine but also to build a squad that competes without burdening its young players.