Barcelona could be without teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for their Champions League opener against Newcastle United on Thursday night.
The 18-year-old forward aggravated a groin problem during Spain duty and has not trained fully with Barcelona’s first-team squad this week.
Yamal also missed Barcelona’s dominant 6-0 win over Valencia at the weekend, sparking concerns about his availability for Europe, reports ESPN.
The teenager instead completed light individual training sessions on Tuesday, as staff carefully monitor his progress ahead of the Newcastle trip.
Head coach Hansi Flick expressed frustration at Spain’s handling of Yamal, claiming they risked long-term damage by playing him injured.
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Flick revealed Yamal required painkillers to feature in Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey, despite obvious discomfort.
Barcelona are already missing Gavi, who is sidelined with a meniscus injury, and Alejandro Balde, recovering from a hamstring setback.
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There was some good news for the Blaugrana as Frenkie de Jong returned to training and looks set to travel.
Yamal’s absence would be a significant blow, given his explosive start this season with two goals and five assists overall.
Barcelona also face Getafe in LaLiga this weekend, followed by a trip to Real Oviedo, adding urgency to Yamal’s recovery.
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