The spotlight focused on Lamine Yamal is perhaps the most intense of any footballer in world football currently, and it has resulted in no shortage of stories surrounding the teenager. The rise of the 18-year-old’s celebrity profile has seen him questioned for his lifestyle off the pitch.

Not by Hansi Flick, who has noted that he cannot control what Lamine Yamal does away from the pitch, but is delighted with the attitude and professionalism he shows when he is at Barcelona’s facilities. However several reports have emerged that Barcelona are concerned about his focus on the game.

Deco and Jorge Mendes discuss Lamine Yamal lifestyle

Earlier this week superagent Jorge Mendes, who represents Lamine Yamal and has done since he was 15, was seen in the Catalan capital, where Catalunya Radio say that he had dinner with Barcelona Director of Football Deco. The meeting lasted a couple of hours, and one of the topics on the table was Lamine Yamal’s lifestyle.

Both Deco and Mendes agreed that it would be beneficial to keep a closer eye on Lamine Yamal away from the pitch, and Mendes agreed to continue advising Lamine Yamal on making the correct decisions. This agreement stems from concerns at the club about the attention and fame surrounding Lamine Yamal, and how that might be affecting his game. It is mentioned that some of his actions have challenged Flick’s disciplinary code too.

Ronald Araújo could return to the starting XI against Real Madrid. @scapde_45

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 23, 2025

Hansi Flick’s denial of disciplinary issues

This of course comes less than a week after Flick denied a story alleging that Deco had intervened to ensure that Lamine Yamal was not punished for being late to a team meeting. Flick has made it a rule that those who arrive late to team meetings will be dropped for the next game, and that was allegedly the case before Barcelona were due to face Paris Saint-Germain, but Deco and the club supposedly intervened to ensure he was present against the European champions.

The German manager was adamant that this was false, calling the story ‘bullls***’, and noted that those making such claims were lying.