Deco’s Influence Sees Lamine Yamal Avoid Sanction Amidst Rising Concerns at Barcelona

Key Takeaways:

• Deco intervened to ensure Lamine Yamal was not punished ahead of the Paris Saint-Germain fixture
• Hansi Flick reportedly intended to bench Yamal for being late to the pre-match team talk
• Barcelona remain worried about recent disciplinary issues surrounding Yamal’s behaviour

Management Moves: Deco’s Intervention

Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, played a decisive role in overturning Hansi Flick’s decision to discipline Lamine Yamal. Flick had originally planned to bench the team’s star for the encounter with Paris Saint-Germain, using a standard sanctioning method he has employed previously. This measure followed Yamal’s tardiness to the team’s pre-match talk.

Deco had to step in to stop Hansi Flick from benching Lamine Yamal for being late to a team talk before the PSG game. The German coach wanted to apply the same punishment he's used with other players, but Deco intervened so the youngster could play. Flick didn't like the move,… pic.twitter.com/RD3FafTnJs

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 17, 2025

Coaching Disapproval and Team Discipline

Although Deco’s directive ensured Yamal started the match, the Catalan coach was reportedly dissatisfied with the interference. The source indicates that Flick believes individual disciplinary actions are important for setting a standard across the squad. Previously, Jules Koundé, Raphinha, Iñaki Peña, and Marcus Rashford have all received similar sanctions for breaches of team protocol. Flick is said to feel that inconsistency in handling such matters can be detrimental to the harmony of the dressing room.

Club Concerns Surrounding Yamal

The source also points to growing anxiety within Barcelona regarding Lamine Yamal’s off-field conduct. In recent months, the emergence of discipline-related issues has given rise to unease among the club’s hierarchy about certain aspects of the young player’s personal life.