Lamine Yamal unhappy at Barcelona – here’s what has upset the young star

Lamine Yamal unhappy at Barcelona – here’s what has upset the young star Barcelona’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Elche should have been a night of celebration, but Lamine Yamal’s reaction after being substituted created an unexpected talking point. According to SPORT , the Barcelona forward is unhappy with the situation surrounding close friend Alejandro Balde, with the uncertainty around several players from his inner circle affecting his mood. Yamal was substituted by Hansi Flick in the 65th minute against Elche and appeared visibly serious as he made his way to the bench.  Images of the teenager sitting with a sombre expression prompted questions about whether there was a deeper issue behind his reaction, particularly after he remained affected despite attempts from teammates to lift his spirits. Now, one account has offered a possible explanation, and it has little to do with Yamal’s performances on the pitch. Yamal’s Elche reaction sparks questions Barcelona were dominant at the Martínez Valero, beginning the new season with a convincing 5-0 win.  Yet, Yamal did not enjoy his strongest performance and his substitution became one of the most closely discussed moments of the match. Lamine, Casado and Balde share a great friendship. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The young forward’s expression after leaving the pitch was noticeably serious, and it did not change during the remainder of the evening. That naturally led to speculation about his state of mind. Now, Barcelona pundit Jota Jordi has dismissed suggestions that Yamal’s mood is connected to his form or disappointment surrounding the World Cup and Ballon d’Or discussions. Instead, he believes the explanation lies much closer to home. Lamine affected by Balde, Casado and Hector Fort situations According to Jota Jordi, Yamal has been particularly affected by the uncertainty surrounding three of his closest friends at Barcelona: Balde, Marc Casado and Hector Fort . The pundit claimed that the situations involving the three players have unfolded within a short period, with Balde’s recent circumstances followed by uncertainty over Casado and Fort. “He’s a 19-year-old lad and his three best friends of the last ten years are leaving, and I can assure you that’s why. Don’t look for any other reasons,”  Jota Jordi said. “It’s solely and exclusively because the Balde situation happened 24 hours earlier, Casado is also slipping out the back door, and then there’s the matter of Héctor Fort,” he added.   Balde’s future is uncertain at Barcelona. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images) The claim should be treated as the pundit’s account of the situation rather than an official explanation from Yamal or Barcelona.  Neither the player nor the club has publicly confirmed why the forward appeared upset after the Elche match. Close friendships make Barcelona departures difficult Yamal is particularly close to the trio and had hoped to share what could be an exciting season at Barcelona with them. In fact, Jota Jordi described the three players as being like “brothers” to Yamal and suggested that the possibility of their departures has taken an emotional toll on the Barcelona star. “They’re his brothers, and they tell me Lamine feels bad about it because he thinks it’s going to be a great season and that, with three Barça fans like these three, he’s going to miss out on what’s to come. I can assure you that’s more or less how it is,” he added.   Balde’s situation remains particularly relevant, with recent reports suggesting that his role under Flick has become less secure.  Casado and Fort have also faced uncertainty regarding their respective futures.