After earning the prestigious Globe Soccer Award as the Best Emerging Player of 2024, Lamine Yamal returns to Barcelona this Saturday with one clear objective: to be ready for the Supercopa de España semifinals, scheduled for January 8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In this matchup, Barça will face Athletic Club de Bilbao, home to his friend and national teammate, Nico Williams.

Focused on Recovery During His Return

After a short vacation in Dubai with family and friends, Lamine remained committed to his recovery. During his time off, he worked on rehabilitating his right ankle injury, sustained in a match against Leganés. Now, the young forward is back to join his teammates for training at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, where an open-door session will be held this Saturday under the guidance of head coach Hansi Flick.

According to Mundo Deportivo, although he will continue with an individualized recovery plan, his progress has been encouraging. Lamine is no longer experiencing pain in his ankle and is expected to join group training soon. “I want to help the team on the pitch, and I’ll keep working hard to be ready for January 8,” he said with determination.

Admired by the Football World

During the Globe Soccer Awards Gala in Dubai, the Barça star received widespread admiration from prominent figures in the football world. He also sent a message full of ambition: “We’re going all in,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

Recovery Ahead of Schedule

Initially, Barça’s medical report on December 16 estimated a recovery period of three to four weeks. However, Lamine is on track to shorten this timeline, aiming to be fit within three weeks—just in time for the team’s January 6 departure to Saudi Arabia.

While in Dubai, he worked with a club physiotherapist and stayed in regular contact with Dr. Pruna, keeping him updated on his recovery progress. With a checkup scheduled for tomorrow, the young talent continues to show his dedication and resolve to return to the field and help Barça pursue another title.