Barcelona given concerning warning about teenage phenom’s injury – ‘Much more uncertain’ | OneFootball

FC Barcelona were dealt a major blow on Monday as tests revealed that key forward Lamine Yamal had sustained a Grade 1 ligament sprain in his right ankle.

The injury happened during the Blaugrana’s 0-1 loss to Leganes on Sunday, when the 17-year-old was on the receiving end of a harsh challenge by an opponent in the first half.

Even though Yamal indicated for a substitution late in the first period, he was left on the pitch until the 75th minute before eventually being withdrawn.

Now, the youngster is facing a spell of three to four weeks out on the sidelines, which comes as a blow for Hansi Flick & co.

Barcelona warned about Lamine’s injury

However, Dr. Ripoll, a football-specialised surgeon and orthopaedic expert, has warned Barcelona about the dangers of this injury and the uncertainty surrounding the recovery process.

“This is not a typical sprain; it is a much more specific injury, a mild rupture of the membrane that connects the tibia and the fibula, known as syndesmosis. The prognosis is much more uncertain,” said Dr. Ripoll.

Yamal is out for 3-4 weeks. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The orthopaedic surgeon also pointed out that this is the second injury to “the same structure in less than a month” and emphasised that “this structure is much more delicate than the ankle.”

When asked about the potential harm caused by Yamal continuing to play after sustaining the injury, Dr. Ripoll was clear that it could have severely affected him.

He highlighted that “this is an everyday issue” because, in football, “it is the coaches and players who decide when a player leaves the pitch.”

The orthopaedic surgeon also draws attention to the heavy match load that Yamal, just 17 years old, faces at Barcelona: “He has played 80% of the matches and last year, he played 91%.”

For all these reasons, Dr. Ripoll advised Barcelona’s medical team: “It would be wise to fully heal the injury and not rush the process.”

Source: Cadena SER