Lamine Yamal, as usual, stirred controversy, this time during his substitution in the Barcelona-Atlético Madrid match on Saturday in La Liga 2026.
Yamal appeared extremely angry as he left the pitch in the final minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano, leading some to speculate that his anger might stem from Hansi Flick’s decision to take him off.
Flick denies any disagreements with Yamal
Yamal was seen refusing to speak with Flick, who attempted to talk to him, perhaps to explain the substitution. This immediately sparked rumors of a deteriorating relationship between the two.
After the match, Flick was asked about the reason for Yamal’s anger. He replied, “No, it wasn’t because of his performance; he played well.”
He added, “It’s about certain situations… He tried his best, but he wasn’t lucky enough to score or provide the final pass… But in the end, he’s in the dressing room, and everything is fine.”
Since Flick’s arrival as Barcelona coach, the relationship with the 18-year-old has been excellent, with the player consistently praising the German at every opportunity.
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Barcelona’s goalkeeping coach is the reason for Flick’s anger
According to Mundo Deportivo, Yamal’s anger wasn’t directed at Flick, but rather at Barcelona’s goalkeeping coach, José Ramón de la Fuente.
Yamal was annoyed by the constant instructions he received from de la Fuente on the sidelines, especially since de la Fuente had been given additional responsibilities by Flick, including performance analysis and set-piece duties.
A behind-the-scenes video shows Yamal avoiding standing in front of Flick, then having an agitated exchange with de la Fuente, who accompanied him to the dressing room.
Yamal subjected to racist chants during the Atlético Madrid match
What likely exacerbated Yamal’s anger throughout the match was the racist chants he endured from some Atlético Madrid fans.
Cameras captured some Atlético Madrid fans shouting “Go back to Morocco” at Yamal, attempting to disrupt and unsettle him during the match.
Barcelona ultimately secured a 2-1 victory, and Yamal appeared reluctant to celebrate Robert Lewandowski’s decisive late goal, revealing his frustration with both the Barça goalkeeping coach and the atmosphere at the Atlético stadium.
