Deco waxes lyrical over Barcelona rising superstar – ‘A gift to Barça and the world’ | OneFootball

In a recent interview with Catalunya Radio (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Barcelona sporting director Deco talked about the team’s recent form as well as Lamine Yamal, who has been missing in action due to injuries.

The Portuguese also talked about Barcelona’s growing tension with the Spanish national team, especially with the way Yamal was handled in the last international break.

Deco on Yamal and national team

Deco tried to diffuse the tension between Barcelona and the Spanish national team by offering a diplomatic view on the situation, but explained why the club are frustrated.

“Lamine came with pubic overload. He tried to recover for the PSG game, to be able to play at his best level. Things have not gone so well, playing the 90 minutes with such intensity,” he said, suggesting that Spain should have been careful with Yamal.

“After the post-match, it was decided that Lamine would not play in Seville because he would have to make a special plan. The report was sent to the Federation,” he added.

Yamal has been ruled out with the recurrence of the discomfort, though the forward is hopeful of coming back for the next league game against Girona, right after the international break.

Deco added that there should have been better communication between the two teams and the player.

“I don’t know if Lamine spoke with De la Fuente; he is free to do so. De la Fuente also spoke with Gavi. Lamine was still discomfort, he was not well. We spoke internally within the club, and from there, the national team was informed,” Deco detailed.

Deco is not happy with the way Yamal’s injury was handled by Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Barcelona sporting director went on to diffuse the tension by moving away from the narrative that was set by Hansi Flick.

“I am not involved in the day-to-day running of the national team to know how they look after the players; we know they treat the players well, we spoke with Karanka, and that’s how it is. Normally, you don’t like a situation like this,” he said.

Deco went on to outline how Barcelona takes special care of its players, especially the ones as important as Yamal and Raphinha, stressing that Spain should have taken better care.

“What we do is take care of the players, Lamine, Raphinha, Casado, Bernal, whoever it is, and each player has his own world. We all manage to have Lamine, but if you’re important in the Barça world, you’re important in the world,” he said.

“You have to know how to handle it, but it’s much more on a personal level. It’s up to us to help the players on the sporting level and off the pitch, from there, age is age,” he added.

Finally, the Portuguese heaped praise on Yamal by calling him a gift to the footballing world.

“I’m 48, I’m not 18, but Lamine has shown a different maturity because he’s a special player, but he’s still 18 years old. For Barça and the world, it’s a gift to have Lamine. We have to be happy with this,” he concluded.