One game into the new LaLiga season and Lamine Yamal is already complaining about substitutions.
The World Cup winner was taken off in the 65th minute of Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Elche for an impressive Anthony Gordon.
Lamine didn’t appreciate the move, and much like last season, he made his frustrations clear on the touchline with his body language.
Reacting to the scenes, former Barcelona player Jose Mari Bakero had seen enough.
Lamine Yamal’s latest sulk gets slammed
“I’m going to be ruthless this year regarding substitutions,” he said.
“I won’t accept players being so selfish. Not a single one. It’s disrespectful to their teammates.
“I’m talking about Lamine and anyone who complains when they’re substituted.
“It’s one thing to get angry when you’re playing in a Copa del Rey or Champions League final, that’s normal.
“But the first league match, you’re coming back from the World Cup, all your teammates have done preseason training and you haven’t…
“I’m not going to get into whether he plays well or badly. Look, respect the coach and your teammates.
“The players have to understand that they’re there to do what the coach asks of them.”
Despite the pundits claims, he is unlikely to change coach Hansi Flick’s mind.
Flick was staunch in his defence of Lamine last season after multiple sulks.
In fact, reports claimed that the winger is even given special dispensation to avoid fines when he’s late for training and matches.
Flick repeatedly defends Lamine’s behaviour
After a December sulk against Eintracht Frankfurt, Flick joked: “Next time he’ll be on the bench.”
He then clarified: “Lamine was a little disappointed with the substitution, but he already had a yellow card and we needed fresh legs on the field.
“This is simply Lamine, he is who he is. I totally understand him, because he thinks he can play at all times.
“It seems fine to me and I have no problem with it. I understand him perfectly because I was also a player. Maybe I wouldn’t show it like this, but I accept the situation without any problems.”
Another occurrence came in April when he was taken off against Atletico Madrid and Flick was similarly defensive.
“He tried everything down the wing,” Flick reflected.
“What we have to understand is that Lamine is 18 years old, and when you watch the game again, you see that he does incredible things.
“He beat five players and almost scored. He left frustrated. He’s emotional, and that’s a good thing.
“Not everything he does is to make a scene. I told him he can do it, that I’ll always protect him.”
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