Barcelona boss doubtful over key star’s availability vs Real Madrid – ‘Don’t know if he’ll be ready’ | OneFootball

In a little over three weeks, Real Madrid lock horns with bitter rivals FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first El Clasico of the 2025/26 season.

Both teams are set to be without some important players for the game due to injury issues. On Real Madrid’s side Antonio Rudiger is ruled out while there are doubts about the returns of Dani Carvajal and Trent Alexander-Arnold in time for the game.

Meanwhile, Barcelona will be without Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while they are sweating over the availability of Joan Garcia.

Lamine Yamal also a doubt?

Now, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has cast doubts over the availability of key winger Lamine Yamal for the Real Madrid clash as well.

The 18-year-old wonderkid, who finished runner-up in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, is dealing with pubic discomfort and is set to be out for two to three weeks.

Flick not sure if Lamine will be ready for El Clasico. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

However, it has become a recurring problem for Yamal, having already caused him to miss four games in September. As such, Flick was wary of the 18-year-old talent’s condition and expressed doubts over his availability for the Clasico.

“We don’t know when Lamine will be back because with this injury, it’s not easy to know, as it’s not a muscle injury. We don’t know if he’ll be back in two, three or four weeks,” said Flick in his press conference earlier today.

“I don’t know if he’ll be ready for El Clasico. We have to manage his minutes. He’ll work with the recovery team. He’ll take it step by step. We’ll see how he progresses.”

A very important player for Barcelona, missing Lamine will be a big blow for the team, if it does end up turning out that way.

But reports suggest that the Blaugrana have a plan in place to ensure that the youngster is at his 100% in time to face Real Madrid in the first Clasico later this month.