Yamal must learn the importance of protecting his reputation

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We don’t know what exactly is true about Lamine Yamal’s 18th birthday party, and what’s hearsay, but at this point it doesn’t matter. The damage is done.

For Barcelona, it was the eve of an exciting new season, and now, instead of being singularly focused on footballing preparations, there is instead a media distraction surrounding their most important player

and a potential government investigation.

This is why some managers, Hansi Flick included, are so strict. Team rules and structures are meant

to protect the players from themselves.

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You want to be able to thread the needle. Show the players respect, treat them like adults who deserve freedom over their personal lives.

Ironically, this was Lamine’s first day as an adult. And he was given a rude awakening on how to carry himself as a professional. Kids will be given the benefit of the doubt, but when you turn 18, expectations and standards change quickly.

As a club, there’s only so much Barcelona can do to protect Lamine. The onus is on the player to make smart choices about the people he spends time with, and way his spends his personal time.

Lamine has said that Neymar is his idol. If it were me, I’d choose another one.

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Strive to be like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, and not as footballers. There’s a reason why they’re still playing at the highest level, while Neymar, and a player like Ronaldinho, crashed out so early on. They made good personal choices from a young age and onward. They protected their reputation like it was their job.

Lifestyle matters. Lean into family. Stay humble, as hard as it can be when you get so famous, so fast.

I’m not trying to be the purity police here.

As football fans, we all know the stories of great talents who never reach their potential because of temptations and distractions off the field.

Perhaps, what Lamine needs most now, is tough love.

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By all accounts, from what we know so far, he didn’t hurt anyone. But he came across as a very immature 18-year-old. For us average people who don’t live life in the spotlight, you can get away with making silly choices at this age.

For Lamine, the truth is, he will not be afforded the same luxury.

The media will not be waiting for, and even expecting, his next mistake. The tabloid machine doesn’t rest.

His professional reputation matters as much as his talent as a footballer. That’s the lesson here.

Luckily, he has a coach who is caring and principled, and not afraid to tell it like it is.

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

There’s too much on the line for not just the player this season, but the team as well. This incident hurt the club at a time when everyone should just be excited about the players returning for preseason, eagerly anticipating what they will accomplish next.

But let’s not overreact either. Lamine deserves grace. He is human, and he still has the mind and temperament of a boy. This is a biological reality.

His teammates, especially the senior ones, will have his back, and hopefully, be ready to show him the way.

This was an early lesson, before the season begins, to be focused on football. No distractions allowed.

This team is striving for nothing short of excellence.

For that to be possible, everyone has to do their job, both on and off the field.

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