Ruud Gullit's Warning on Barcelona's Handling of Lamine Yamal

Ruud Gullit has sounded a stark warning over Barcelona’s handling of Lamine Yamal, insisting the teenager is being pushed to a dangerous limit that could lead to serious injury.

Speaking in Madrid to AS in his role as a member of the Laureus Academy, the 63-year-old Dutchman could hardly hide his admiration for Yamal’s talent. He loves what the winger brings, the fearlessness, the spark. But that admiration quickly gave way to concern.

For Gullit, the problem is not Yamal’s quality. It is the workload.

He pointed to a familiar pattern at Barcelona, a path already trodden by other La Masia prodigies who were thrown into heavy, high-stakes schedules before their bodies were fully ready. Names like Pedri and Gavi came immediately to his lips — players who were leaned on heavily for club and country, then broke down.

Gullit questioned why a team of Barcelona’s stature leans so heavily on someone so young, especially in the biggest games. He described the current situation as “not normal,” stressing that Yamal is being used “all the time” and that the dependence on him has become excessive.

The argument he hears most often — that youth can handle the load — simply does not convince him. He referenced how Pedri and Gavi were sent into a World Cup on the back of gruelling seasons, only to suffer injuries that have proved difficult to overcome.

Once a player goes down, Gullit reminded, the road back is long and unforgiving. The physical battle is hard enough; the mental toll can be even worse.

That is why his message, beneath the praise, was blunt: Barcelona and Spain are playing with fire. Yamal is dazzling now, but if the cycle repeats and another teenage star breaks under the strain, nobody can claim they did not see it coming.