Former Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta has attempted to cool the rising tension ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico, calling it “the biggest game there is” and urging everyone to focus on the football rather than the noise surrounding it.
Speaking at the second International Congress on Health Communication at Vall d’Hebron Hospital alongside basketball star Ricky Rubio, Iniesta was asked about the recent controversy sparked by Lamine Yamal’s comments. The 18-year-old Barcelona forward had told content creator
Ibai Llanos that “Real Madrid steal and complain,” remarks that have since made their way to the Real Madrid dressing room.
“There are comments from all sides, from one place and another,” Iniesta said. “El Clásico goes beyond any comment or player, from any president or director. The important thing is the football, the players who will be there. El Clásico is the biggest game there is.”
The former midfielder—known for his calm demeanor both on and off the pitch—chose not to criticize Yamal directly. “We all have our own lives,” he continued. “I don’t like giving advice, especially when I’m not in the team. If the club thinks something isn’t right, those are internal issues.”
While Iniesta sought to defuse the situation, Yamal’s comments have not gone unnoticed at Valdebebas. According to Marca, Real Madrid players were left unimpressed, viewing the Barcelona teenager as “a bad teammate” who disrespects the unwritten codes of professionalism. Within the Madrid camp, there’s a sense of fatigue over what they perceive as provocation—particularly given the context of the ongoing Negreira case, which has already placed Barcelona under scrutiny for alleged referee payments.
Players have reportedly discussed Yamal’s words in training, using them as extra motivation for Sunday’s showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu—a match that could determine top spot in LaLiga.
Iniesta, meanwhile, believes that Barcelona will travel to Madrid in “very good form and full of confidence,” but he reminded that “Clásicos are always different—they have their own energy and emotion.”
