Yamal is playing at only 50% of his capacity

Young talent Lamine Yamal is forced to play with reduced physical strength, performing at roughly 50% of his ability due to a persistent groin injury.

Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal is currently competing without being in optimal physical condition. According to renowned sports doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll, the 18-year-old is severely affected by chronic groin injury (pubalgia), which reduces his mobility and shooting capability by up to 50%.

In the recent El Clasico where Barca lost 1-2 to Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, Yamal showed great effort but clearly wasn’t at his peak performance. His movements were slower than usual, he barely managed any dangerous shots, and frequently had to stop due to muscle tightness.

Dr. Ripoll shared on El Larguero: “Pubalgia is a very difficult injury to treat. It doesn’t damage joint structures, but the persistent pain causes players to lose nearly half of their movement capacity. Yamal is trying to play through it, yet this pain ‘disables’ him, preventing him from exploding onto the field as before.”

Barcelona’s medical team is currently carefully managing Yamal’s playing load to prevent recurrence or worsening of the injury. It is known that without proper treatment, this injury can last for weeks or even months.

Not only Yamal, but Real Madrid is also troubled by Dani Carvajal’s condition. The veteran defender has suffered a right knee injury in the same area that sidelined him for a long time last season. According to Dr. Ripoll, Carvajal has “loose bodies inside the joint,” which can cause pain, swelling, and even joint locking if cartilage fragments move into weight-bearing areas.

Following the intense El Clasico, not only injuries but also off-field clashes stirred controversy. Carvajal reportedly exchanged words with Yamal, accusing the young player of “talking too much” after teasing Real Madrid on social media before the match. Frenkie de Jong defended his teammate, stating that Real’s side “overreacted.”

This defeat leaves Barcelona 5 points behind Real Madrid in the La Liga standings. With Yamal not yet at full fitness, coach Hansi Flick faces a difficult challenge to restore the Catalan team’s attacking strength in the upcoming period.