'It's certainly alarming' - Barcelona sent Lamine Yamal warning after wonderkid makes return from injury against Real Sociedad

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Barcelona and Spain have been warned over the handling of Lamine Yamal following the forward’s return from a groin injury. The 18-year-old came off the bench to help the Spanish champions defeat Real Sociedad 2-1 in La Liga on Sunday, having missed his side’s previous four games with a groin problem which was aggravated while on international duty.

Yamal's excessive workload laid bare in new study from FIFPRO

Footballers’ union FIFPRO published a new study on Monday which has laid bare the staggering amount of football played by Yamal following his breakthrough as a 15-year-old in Barcelona’s La Liga clash with Real Betis in 2023. According to FIFPRO’s report, Yamal has made 130 appearances by the age of 18, with Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta - a man who eventually made 674 appearances for the club - having only made 40 by that age.

Concerns have now been raised about Yamal's welfare

And concerns have now been raised about the welfare of Yamal by Darren Burgess, chair of FIFPRO's high-performance advisory network, who believes the Spain international’s excessive workload could have severe ramifications for his long-term health.

In quotes carried by the Daily Mail, Burgess said of FIFPRO’s study: “It's certainly alarming. To expose them [players up to the age of 24 and 25] to excessive load at that time is almost certainly to expose them to greater injury risk.”

And via FIFPRO’s published report, Burgess added: "Growth plates, tendons, and ligaments remain vulnerable during these years, and excessive high-speed running or short recovery windows can lead to long-term structural damage. The psychological toll should also not be underestimated.”

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Barcelona boss Flick revealed Yamal took painkillers to play for Spain

FIFPRO’s report follows on from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick revealing that Yamal took painkillers in order to play in Spain’s World Cup-qualifying double header against Bulgaria and Turkey earlier this month. The German was left seething after confirming the teenage sensation was subsequently unavailable for his side’s league clash against Valencia on September 14.

Confirming Yamal’s absence from the game, Flick was heavily critical of Spain, saying: "Lamine Yamal will not be available. He went with the national team in pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play. They had at least a three-goal lead in every match, and he played 73 minutes and 79, and between matches he couldn't train. That is not taking care of the player. I am very sad about this."

Yamal made long-awaited return against Sociedad on Sunday

Yamal made his long-awaited return from injury as a second-half substitute in Barcelona’s victory over Sociedad at the weekend. Having missed the Blaugrana’s league games against Valencia, Getafe and Real Oviedo - as well as their Champions League opener against Newcastle - he emerged from the bench to set up Robert Lewandowski for what proved to be the decisive winner.

Yamal has already achieved incredible milestones at Barcelona

Yamal has been nothing short of remarkable since emerging through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy when making his senior debut against Betis in April 2023. In his first full season at the club in 2023-24, he became Barcelona’s youngest starter in La Liga, their youngest goalscorer in the Spanish top flight and also the youngest player to appear for the club in El Clasico. Yamal also became the youngest player to be named in a Champions League starting lineup in Barcelona’s clash with Porto in October 2023.

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Wonderkid has also smashed a number of records for Spain

Yamal has also achieved several milestones with Spain. The wonderkid became his country’s youngest ever player and goalscorer after finding the back of the net on his debut in the 7-1 victory over Georgia in September 2023, aged 16. He was subsequently named in Spain’s squad for Euro 2024 and became the youngest player and the youngest goalscorer in a European Championship, again aged 16. Yamal then became the youngest player to appear in a European Championship final, then aged 17, as Spain defeated England 2-1 to clinch the trophy in Germany.

Barcelona's next matches: PSG and Sevilla are up next for Yamal

Next up for Yamal and Barcelona is a mouth-watering clash against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Flick’s side will then travel to Sevilla on Sunday in their final league fixture before the international break.