‘Happened to me many times’… Barcelona captain relates to Lamine Yamal’s substitution frustration against Atalanta | OneFootball

Last night, UEFA Champions League action took center stage, with 18 simultaneous games keeping fans on the edge of their seats. One of the standout matches saw FC Barcelona face Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta in a thrilling encounter that ended in a 2-2 draw.

However, it was a moment late in the game that drew attention to the emotional side of 17-year-old Barcelona wonderkid, Lamine Yamal.

In the final minutes of the match, with the game still level, Hansi Flick made the decision to substitute the Spanish winger for Pau Victor. As Yamal walked off the pitch, it was clear that the teenager was frustrated with the timing of his exit.

This moment of visible frustration was quickly addressed by Flick, who showed his strong man-management skills by reassuring Yamal and acknowledging his emotions as he made his way toward the bench.

Following the game, as highlighted by Diario AS, Raphinha, one of Barcelona’s leaders in the locker room, was asked about the young star’s reaction. The Brazilian winger, who has taken on a more prominent role as one of the team captains this season, shared his thoughts on the situation, providing valuable insight into the emotional dynamics at play.

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Raphinha, who himself has experienced similar situations earlier in his Barcelona career, was quick to empathize with Yamal. In his post-match media talk, he said:

“I understand it very well. He is a spectacular player, so it’s understandable that he gets upset. I understand his frustration about not finishing the match because it has happened to me many times. But he played very well, helped the team, and scored a goal.”

Raphinha can likely relate to Yamal’s frustration of being substituted before completing the full match, as he faced a similar situation at the beginning of his Barcelona career. In his early days at the club, Xavi frequently substituted the former Leeds United winger well before the final whistle, denying him the opportunity to play a full 90 minutes.

It was common under Xavi to substitute Raphinha after 60 minutes, as back in 2022-2023, Ousmane Dembélé was the #1 right winger for the former Barcelona manager. And when the Frenchman was often injured, the Brazilian winger had to share minutes with Ferran Torres.

While Xavi is rightfully so the first one to utilize Raphinha’s true potential as a number 10 and a left winger. At the same time, he didn’t extract the best out of the Brazilian by rotating him often. This is why the Barcelona captain can relate so well to the young Lamine Yamal.

In his media talk, Raphinha further added, ‘I try to support him, and I can say that I am very happy with his performance today and throughout the season.’ This statement further underscores why the Brazilian winger is the perfect fit and an essential presence in such a youthful Barcelona squad.