Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has criticized the reaction of Real Madrid players, particularly veteran defender Dani Carvajal, towards teammate Lamine Yamal following the tense 2-1 El Clásico defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.
The post-match confrontation stemmed from pre-game comments made by the 18-year-old Yamal, who had made lighthearted but controversial remarks on a King’s League stream suggesting Real Madrid “steal and complain” regarding referee decisions.
After the final whistle, Carvajal was seen making a ‘talking’ gesture toward Yamal, igniting a scuffle between the two sets of players.
According to FotMob reporting and related outlets, De Jong insisted that the Madrid players’ response was excessive, especially from a national team colleague like Carvajal. He defended his teammate, arguing that any issue should have been resolved discreetly.
“The reaction of the Real Madrid players was all very exaggerated. If you know Lamine and you think he doesn’t have to make these statements, you speak to him privately,” De Jong stated.
He also defended the context of Yamal’s comments, suggesting they were not meant to be taken seriously. “Besides, it’s not that big of a deal. I didn’t hear Lamine saying that Real Madrid stole directly. Someone else in the Kings League table said it.”
De Jong specifically called out Carvajal for his on-field antics, stating that a private conversation would have been the appropriate course of action.
“Carvajal can talk to Lamine in private. Making gestures on the field, you do the same thing. If you’re a teammate and you know him, you can call him instead of doing it on the field.”
The comments underscore the deep rivalry and persistent tension that continues to define the relationship between Spain’s two biggest clubs.