FC Barcelona has reportedly reprimanded Lamine Yamal following the 2-1 loss to Real Madrid on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Santiago Bernabéu.
According to El Chiringuito, the club’s management prevented the 18-year-old player from attending a promotional event with a sponsor scheduled for October 27. The Catalan club deemed this public appearance would come « too soon » after the Clasico setback. The Spanish winger accepted this decision without protest.
This measure comes after several weeks of controversy surrounding the Euro 2024 champion.
Lamine Yamal’s Comments; A Motivated Real Madrid
Last Thursday, during an appearance on the Spanish Kings League’s Twitch show, Yamal accused Real Madrid of benefiting from favorable refereeing treatment. « They steal, they complain all the time,« he said on Ibai Llanos’ program. These remarks sparked outrage in Iberian media and energized the Madrid players before the match.
The game confirmed Barcelona’s fears. Yamal was completely off his game against the Merengue defenders. Invisible for ninety minutes, he created no dangerous situations. Bref, the Catalan prodigy had promised to score at the Bernabéu in reference to the previous year’s 4-0 victory, but he remained silent this time.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, Fermin Lopez equalized in the 38th, then Jude Bellingham secured victory for Real just before halftime.
Tensions reached their peak at the final whistle. Several Madrid players, including Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois, and Vinicius Junior, rushed toward Yamal to remind him of his pre-match statements.
Referee César Soto had to distribute several yellow cards after the final whistle. Andriy Lunin even received a red card for aggressive behavior toward the opposing bench. Vinicius, Militão, and Rodrygo were also sanctioned.
The daily newspaper Marca sharply criticized the young Barcelona player’s attitude. Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa wrote in its columns: « Lamine’s comments, claiming that ‘Real Madrid steals,’ are more serious than they appear. They are unworthy of a professional footballer and a Barça star. Messi, Xavi, or Iniesta never uttered such indignation. »
The Spanish press questions the player’s maturity as he continues generating controversies over recent months.
Defensa reports that the Catalan management has banned Yamal from speaking to the media and on social networks. A decision that reportedly received approval from the Barcelona dressing room.
The team’s senior players worry about their young teammate’s behavior. They fear his provocations harm his sporting development. Enfin, some worry he’s spreading himself thin with off-field activities instead of focusing on his football.
Relations with the Spanish national team have also become strained. Yamal stopped following Dani Carvajal on Instagram after the Clasico incidents. He reportedly encouraged his teammate Pedri to do the same. Frenkie de Jong took a public stance, believing Carvajal should have settled this matter privately rather than provoking Yamal on the pitch after the match.
The player has three goals and five assists across all competitions this season. Statistics that prove his talent on the field. Hansi Flick counts on him to turn things around after this defeat that leaves Barça five points behind Real in the Liga standings. Management hopes this wake-up call will help the young winger regain his focus.
The Catalan press shows more restraint in its criticism. El Nacional nevertheless highlights the dressing room’s concerns about the player’s attitude. Teammates want to protect their « jewel » but admit his recent behavior is problematic. Repeated incidents in his private life, widely shared on social media, also fuel discussions.
