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Rift in the locker room: Lamine Yamal's rise to stardom doesn't please everyone

There are also players on the squad who believe everything is moving too quickly for Lamine Yamal

Barcelona is experiencing a moment of splendor in sports. However, coexistence inside the locker room isn't always as simple as it seems from the outside.

At the center of it all is Lamine Yamal, who has become a fan idol. He is also a reference for the international press and the club's great hope for the future.

However, his meteoric rise also creates tensions. Some players are starting to
show discomfort with the special treatment he receives.

A player in an FC Barcelona uniform raises his arms on the field during a match.
Lamine Yamal doesn't garner unanimity in Barça's locker room | Getty Images

Lamine interacts normally with everyone, but not everyone accepts his leadership in the same way.

According to information from El Nacional, there is some internal unrest due to the speed with which Lamine Yamal has gone from being a prospect to becoming untouchable.

For the veterans, the situation is reminiscent of other moments when a young star disrupted the group's balance, although this time the phenomenon is much earlier.

A different player

Lamine, at just 18 years old, has already broken records for precocity. His confidence and his numbers support his status: goals, assists, and a consistent performance that has placed him among the world elite.

From the club, in addition, they take care of him in detail. Everyone is aware that he can become the figure who defines an era.

However, not everyone accepts it in the same way. Some believe that so much media and board attention toward the young star ends up overshadowing footballers with more experience and accumulated merit. Barça's locker room has always been sensitive to
hierarchy balances, and Lamine's emergence breaks those traditional codes.

The warning from within

According to the aforementioned outlet, some teammates have already sent veiled warning messages. It's not about questioning the young man's quality, which is unquestionable at this point, but about reminding everyone that collective success depends on keeping the group united.

The feeling is that Lamine Yamal's rise to the top is unstoppable.

It must be managed intelligently to avoid internal cracks.

At Barça, they know this and are working to ensure that the winger's status doesn't generate rejection. He is advised to show humility, work daily, and respect the locker room codes. For now, the player keeps a friendly and smiling image, but the environment is pressing and every gesture is analyzed in detail.

Two players in the foreground, one wearing a blue and red jersey covering his mouth and the other smiling in a yellow jersey, against a light green background.
The club is concerned about the possibility that Lamine could become a Cristiano II | Getty Images, Madrid-Barcelona

The immediate future

The schedule is tight and Barça needs everyone to be fully focused. Flick has demanded absolute unity and wants to prevent these kinds of situations from affecting collective performance.

Lamine will continue to be a protagonist. The goal is for his rise not to come at the expense of the rest.

Time will tell if this incipient unrest remains anecdotal or becomes a real problem. What is certain is that Lamine Yamal is already at the top, and in the locker room, some look with suspicion at a phenomenon that seems unstoppable.