Why Yamal asked to be substituted against Mallorca — Barcelona boss Flick explains

Hansi Flick has clarified that Lamine Yamal's substitution during the win against Real Mallorca was a precautionary measure requested by the player himself.

The teenage sensation scored his 15th goal of the season in the comfortable 3-0 victory, which helped solidify the club's position at the top of the La Liga table.

Barcelona continue to chase a second straight LaLiga title, while fending off strong opponents, Real Madrid.

Yamal played a crucial role in preventing any slip-ups against Mallorca, contributing to a win that also featured goals from Robert Lewandowski and Marc Bernal.

However, concerns arose when the 18-year-old was taken off in the 78th minute, prompting questions about a potential injury.

Flick quickly dispelled these fears, explaining that the substitution was simply to manage the young star's playing time.

"We need to manage Lamine’s minutes," Flick told reporters. "I know he’s enjoying it. He wasn’t at his best in the first half, but he was much better in the second. He’s fantastic. I asked him if he wanted me to substitute him, and he said yes."

The match provided opportunities for other players, with Marc Casado playing the full 90 minutes. Flick explained the decision was part of a broader strategy to utilize the entire squad.

"We have a lot of matches, and we have fantastic professionals. He deserved to play too," the manager said.

"Frenkie wasn’t feeling quite right, so I decided he should rest. But he would have started whether De Jong was there or not."