Former Barcelona President Joan Gaspart has offered strong, cautionary advice to teenage star Lamine Yamal following the controversy sparked by his pre-El Clásico comments about Real Madrid.
Gaspart’s remarks come as the club tries to restore the youngster’s focus amid an injury struggle and media scrutiny.
Yamal’s joking accusation on a Kings League stream that Real Madrid “They steal, they complain…” led to a heated confrontation with Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal after the recent match.
Addressing the drama, Gaspart insisted his concern for Yamal is born from affection, like “a father scolding his son.”
In an interview with SPORT published via Barça Universal, Gaspart warned against the premature labelling of the 18-year-old:
“He is not the best in the world… He may become the best, but he isn’t yet,” emphasizing that such praise is detrimental to a developing player.
Gaspart also questioned Carvajal’s post-match reaction, asking: “Who the hell is Carvajal?… Why should Lamine call him out when his comments weren’t even directed at him?”
Crucially, the former president advised the player to prioritize his physical condition: “If Lamine is not in top condition, it is better for him to stop and not play.”
He closed with a reminder of the responsibilities that come with representing the club: “It is clear that he needs to be looked after, but Barça is above him.
There are fans who love him very much, and he cannot let them down. He must win back those fans and realise that people take into account that even though he is 18, he earns like a 30-year-old.”