Ahead of El Clásico, Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso and Barcelona’s Marcus Sorg brushed aside comments from Lamine Yamal, who joked that Madrid “rob and complain.”
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has stirred the pot ahead of the weekend’s El Clásico, aiming a controversial jibe at rivals Real Madrid that has reportedly caused “irritation” in the capital.
According to ESPN reporting, the 18-year-old made the comments while appearing on the Kings League YouTube channel, a competition run by former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.
When a question was posed to Yamal about whether the opposing team, Porcinos FC, resembled Real Madrid, the young forward did not hesitate to take a sly dig. He responded by claiming Real Madrid “rob and complain,” referencing perceived favorable refereeing decisions.
Yamal was quoted as saying: “Yes, they rob [a reference to refereeing decisions]; they complain; they do things.” When pressed by the interviewer, a self-confessed Madridista, Yamal laughed but doubled down, muttering, “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”
The remarks have not been taken lightly in the Real Madrid dressing room. The reaction from players at Madrid’s training base in Valdebebas was one of “fatigue and irritation,” according to a Marca report cited by ESPN.
Certain Madrid players reportedly see Yamal as a “bad teammate,” not within the Barcelona squad, but among professionals who, as the report notes, “refuse to respect certain unwritten codes among footballers.”
The tension is set to spill over onto the pitch, with Madrid captain Dani Carvajal reportedly planning to ‘confront’ his fellow Spain international ahead of the high-stakes clash.
Yamal followed up his initial comment by later aiming another jab at the Madridista YouTuber during a Kings League post-match celebration, gesturing for him to “go to sleep” after leading his side to a mini “Clásico” victory.