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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Teenage star suffered hand injury back in February</li><li>Questions asked of why players are wearing strapping</li><li>Controversial comments countered by superstition claim</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Playing through pain! Lamine Yamal makes hand injury point to ex-Real Madrid doctor following controversial bandage comments aimed at Barcelona superstars

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Barcelona

Villarreal

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Real Madrid

<p>Niko Mihic, who once worked in the medical department at Santiago Bernabeu, has questioned why so many Blaugrana players have taken to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/explained-why-karim-benzema-wears-bandage-on-hand/bltc16be5fcf9605fd6" target="_blank">wearing wristbands and bandages during matches</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ballon-dor-2025-power-rankings/bltd009fae5576d751f" target="_blank">Ballon d’Or contender Raphinha</a> and Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong are among those to have sported strapping this season. Teen sensation Yamal has also been taped up since suffering an apparent injury during training in mid-February.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Mihic has said: “It could be that they're designing strategy games, playing a lot of table football and tendonitis... in the same way that it could be that they haven't bribed Negreira. I don't know what's going on, but what I mean is that any doctor knows that if you want easier venous access, it's in the hands and wrists.”
</p><p>Another doctor, Antoni Mora, has countered those claims by saying: “It's pure superstition. Players develop a habit, and if they play well while wearing it, then they keep it.”</p>

WHAT EX-MADRID DOCTOR SAID

<p>Yamal made a point of referencing the injury that he is nursing after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/born-once-every-50-years-how-generational-talent-lamine-yamal-inter-three-players-on-him-barcelona-wonderkid-champions-league-masterclass/blt2b963a41efcce659" target="_blank">starring for Barca in their thrilling 3-3 Champions League semi-final draw with Inter</a>. He has highlighted how he is playing through the pain, with his fingers strapped, in an obvious nod to Mihic’s comments.</p><center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJFmh78oYjl/?img_index=4" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Yamal did not keep his bandages on for the entire 90 minutes against Inter, as he once again sought to end any debate regarding supposed cover-ups. He will <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lamine-yamal-bloodied-ankle-heavy-challenge-barcelona-copa-del-rey-atletico-madrid/blt171105b7be6bce63" target="_blank">hope to avoid any more ailments</a> as Barca chase down La Liga and Champions League title glory.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Playing through pain! Lamine Yamal makes hand injury point to ex-Real Madrid doctor following controversial bandage comments aimed at Barcelona superstars | Goal.com

Lamine Yamal appears to have made a hand injury point following controversial bandage comments aimed at Barcelona stars by an ex-Real Madrid doctor.

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