FC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has gone viral for his rough treatment of 16-year-old teammate Lamine Yamal during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Alaves, which was captured and shared online by accounts such as that belonging to local broadcaster Movistar.
Lewandowski should be the hero among Culers for other exploits. It was the Pole who scored a second half double against Alaves to seal a comeback victory, after the visitors had gone 1-0 up through Samu Omorodion inside a minute.
As Xavi Hernandez knows from his playing days, however, and is quickly learning again in the head coach’s hotseat where he has faced criticism after initial praise, things can turn on a sixpence in Barca’s often toxic environment known as the “entorno”.
Movistar‘s clip shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows Lewandowski screaming at the teenager “Lamine! Segundo palo!”, which means he wanted a pass at the far post in Spanish.
The footage also shows Lamine going to Lewandowski to slap or shake hands after the cross that the number 9 wanted squared.
Instead of indulging the winger, however, Lewandowski snubs Lamine and has been attacked online for the act.
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One X user tweeted that Lewandowski’s conduct was “regrettable” and “indefensible”.
“I hope he comes forward and explains this because Lamine is 16 years old and has every right to fail and learn,” the user added, noting that the Mataro native is in the first team “precisely for that reason” – for his “daring” in taking players on and creating danger.
Others with far less patience demanded that Lewandowski heads to Saudi Arabia next season, or the MLS, for what “little he is doing”.
Another user took the outburst as personal reaffirmation that there are rifts in the Barca locker room, though Xavi prefers to point the finger at the media who he believes have harmed his players with recent criticism.
Whoever is to blame, it is clear that tensions are beginning to rise between the players, their manager, and the press.
At least a two-week international break for hot heads to cool down begins now, after which Barca will recommence the defense of their league title with an away trip to Rayo Vallecano on November 25.
