Real Madrid and Barcelona coaches have brushed aside provocative comments made by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of the highly anticipated El Clásico clash at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Yamal, speaking during a YouTube interview promoting Gerard Piqué’s Kings League, stirred controversy by joking that Real Madrid “rob and complain” when asked about rival behavior in La Liga. The remark, made in a lighthearted context, quickly gained traction ahead of Sunday’s showdown between the two Spanish giants.
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso refused to be drawn into the controversy, choosing instead to focus on the match itself. “It’s an important enough game,” Alonso said during Saturday’s press conference. “It has a lot of ingredients… The important thing is what happens on the pitch, and what we have ahead of us tomorrow, and how we want to play. That’s what most concerns me.”
Barcelona’s assistant coach Marcus Sorg, standing in for the suspended Hansi Flick, also played down the comments. “Lamine is a top player, and I think it will be motivating for him,” Sorg said. “We hope we see him tomorrow giving his best performance.”
The match carries significant weight in the La Liga title race, with Real Madrid entering the fixture two points ahead of Barcelona after nine games played. Yamal’s comments, while cheeky, appear to have had little impact on the preparations of either side, as both clubs remain focused on securing a crucial victory.
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