Mansion Sports – Former Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcantara has launched strong criticism toward Lamine Yamal following Blaugrana’s 1–2 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Rafinha argued that the 18-year-old forward displayed “a lack of maturity,” claiming that his pre-match remarks gave Los Blancos extra motivation to perform with greater intensity in the heated El Clásico encounter.

Rafinha’s Criticism of Yamal

In an interview with DAZN after the match, Rafinha highlighted Yamal’s controversial statement on Twitch a few days before kickoff.

During a conversation with streamer Ibai Llanos, the young Barcelona winger had made a provocative comment aimed at Real Madrid, saying, “Of course, they steal, they always complain.”

The statement quickly went viral on social media, provoking outrage among Real Madrid supporters and players alike.

According to Rafinha, Yamal’s words served as a catalyst that fueled Xabi Alonso’s team to play with added determination.

“He made a mistake because he is still young and not yet fully mature when he said that. His words gave Real Madrid extra motivation,” Rafinha said.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti echoed Rafinha’s sentiment, arguing that Yamal still lacks a deep understanding of the historical weight of the rivalry between Spain’s two footballing giants.

“Lamine Yamal is still too young to grasp the long and complex history between Real Madrid and Barcelona. If I were Carvajal, I would have confronted him too,” Guti stated.

A Fiery and Emotionally Charged El Clásico

This edition of El Clásico unfolded in a highly charged atmosphere. Real Madrid secured victory through goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, while Barcelona’s only response came from Fermin Lopez in the first half.

The drama escalated in the closing moments when Pedri was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Aurelien Tchouameni.

After the final whistle, several Real Madrid players—including Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Thibaut Courtois—approached Yamal to confront him about his pre-match comments.

Throughout the match, Yamal was repeatedly booed by the home crowd every time he touched the ball. Despite maintaining composure, he failed to make a direct impact in Barcelona’s lone goal at the Bernabeu.

Support from Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo

While Yamal faced criticism from pundits and former players, several Barcelona teammates came to his defense. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong was among the most outspoken in supporting the young forward.

“When the final whistle blew, several Madrid players went straight to Lamine. Their reaction was excessive,” De Jong said in the post-match interview area.
“If Carvajal wanted to talk to him, it should have been done privately, not in front of everyone. That only made things worse. I also never heard Lamine say that Madrid cheats.”

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo echoed De Jong’s remarks, voicing solidarity with his younger teammate.

“Lamine is a fantastic young professional. He knows what he’s doing, and we all support him,” Araujo stated.

He also addressed Barcelona’s defeat with composure:

“We are disappointed, but the season is long. We believe in the process we are building.”

Admission from Madrid’s Camp: Yamal’s Words Served as Motivation

Interestingly, even Real Madrid’s players acknowledged that Yamal’s remarks added fuel to their motivation.

French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni admitted that the young Barcelona player’s comments gave the team a psychological edge heading into the high-stakes match.

“Those words did give us a bit of extra motivation. There is no hatred, but comments like that make us more determined,” said Tchouameni after Madrid’s 2–1 win.

The victory extended Real Madrid’s lead at the top of the La Liga table to five points over Barcelona and prolonged their unbeaten home record at the Bernabeu to six matches.

Lamine Yamal Under the Spotlight

For Lamine Yamal, this El Clásico served as a major test of his mental fortitude. Although he demonstrated composure on the field, the controversy surrounding his pre-match comments and the post-game confrontation has placed him under intense scrutiny.

Rafinha believes this episode could serve as a valuable lesson for the young star.

“He is an extraordinary player, but sometimes experience speaks louder than talent. Hopefully, he learns from this situation,” Rafinha said.

Barcelona now shift their focus toward improving their overall form following the defeat, while Yamal is expected to silence the ongoing debate the best way possible—through strong performances in the matches to come.