“I will come back stronger” - Barcelona ace Lamine Yamal provides positive fitness update following recent ankle injury woes
Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has provided an update about his fitness as he is out of action due to an ankle injury sustained against Leganes on December 15. The 17-year-old winger revealed that he is gradually recovering and promises to come back stronger.
Lamine Yamal’s impressive performances for Barcelona have been marred by injuries in the last couple of months. In the ongoing season, the La Masia graduate has picked up an injury on three different occasions.
He first picked up an injury in October while on international duty for Spain. He then suffered an ankle injury against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League in November before the recent one against Leganes.
Yamal missed Barcelona’s last match against Atletico Madrid as they lost 2-1, and will miss a few more games. He is expected to return to action in January 2025. In a recent interview with Barca One, Yamal reflected on his 2024 while also talking about his fitness issue. He said:
''I am in the recovery process, but I will come back stronger and more eager. When you stop playing for a while, you realize how important what you are doing is. It was not a problem from the other injury. It was just bad luck, a knock that caused my ankle to twist, and that can happen to anyone.''
Lamine Yamal has scored six goals and provided 12 assists in 21 appearances for La Blaugrana this term.
''He will certainly do it soon'' – Jorge Mendes says Lamine Yamal will renew his contract with Barcelona
Lamine Yamal’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has made it clear that the winger will renew his contract with Barcelona soon. Yamal was promoted to La Blaugrana's senior team in 2023, and his contract with the club will expire in 2026.
Barca see Yamal as the face of their future project, and they consider him unsellable at the moment. Amid interest for the Spaniard from different clubs across Europe, Jorge Mendes has watered down a potential exit. He's asserted that the La Masia graduate will sign a contract extension at the Catalan club. He said via Tuttosport:
''The truth is that Lamine was phenomenal last season. For me and many others, he was the best player in the world last year, both with Spain and with Barcelona . He is a totally different player to all the others: he knows what is needed for his future, he is a balanced guy and I think he is ready to be at the top for many years. Now he is recovering from his injury, he must have a bit of patience and he will be back with the team soon.
"Will he renew? He will certainly do it soon, he must continue at Barcelona . I cannot tell you if he will renew in one or two months, but it will undoubtedly happen ”.
Lamine Yamal’s current market value is €180 million as per Transfermarkt.
