FC Barcelona has made a drastic decision that has shaken the foundations of the Blaugrana locker room: the club has formally demanded that Argentine singer Nicki Nicole end her relationship with Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old prodigy considered the future of world football. According to internal club sources consulted by this medium, the sports management, headed by Deco, has identified the player’s romantic relationship as the main factor behind his recurring muscle injuries, which have hampered his performance in recent weeks. “It’s not just a coincidence. Their absences coincide with the moments of greatest emotional intensity off the field,” they say from the Camp Nou, in a movement that mixes paternal concern with sporting pragmatism.

It all started just a month ago, when Yamal made his romance with Nicole (whose real name is Nicole Denise Cuccose) official through a tender photo on Instagram celebrating his 25th birthday, surrounded by roses and balloons. What seemed like a youthful idyll – with romantic getaways to Monaco, Ibiza and even a helicopter flight over the Mediterranean – has turned into a nightmare for Barça. Yamal, who has already accumulated 130 professional games at his tender age (almost double that of Iniesta or Xavi at 18), has suffered two serious injuries to his pubic and groin so far this season. The last one, aggravated after the Champions League duel against PSG on October 1, will keep him out for 2-3 weeks, putting his presence in El Clásico on October 26 against Real Madrid at risk. Previously, in September, he missed four key games (Valencia, Newcastle, Getafe and Oviedo) due to the same ailments, which mysteriously reappeared after his return from training with Spain.

The trigger was a confidential report from the club’s medical department, which links Yamal’s relapses to “external emotional stress factors.” Close sources reveal that the young winger has been prioritizing trips and nights out with Nicole – including a recent getaway to Croatia to “recharge his batteries” during his leave – to the detriment of recovery protocols. “Lamine is a mature kid, but love at 18 years old clouds his judgment. He has arrived late to training, distracted, and his tests show high cortisol levels due to insomnia and anxiety,” explains a Barça physiotherapist, who prefers anonymity. Hansi Flick, the German coach, has not hidden his frustration: “We protect our players like children, but when something hurts them, we act. The national team no longer took care of it in September; now, the club must intervene.” Remember that Flick already publicly criticized Luis de la Fuente for exposing Yamal in “unnecessary” matches with Spain, where he played with painkillers despite the discomfort.

The demand for Barça came in an emergency meeting on Friday, with Deco and Joan Laporta at the helm. Nicole’s team – who is on tour in Argentina – was contacted directly to convey the message: “End the relationship or risk your sporting future.” The singer, who in September declared that she was “very in love” in an interview with El País, has responded with silence on social networks, although a cryptic post on Instagram (“The heart beats, but the body hurts”) has fueled speculation. Yamal, for his part, posted a photo in the gym with the caption “Total focus,” but insiders say he is “devastated” by the pressure. The couple, who overcame breakup rumors in September (after deleting photos of each other), now face their biggest test. Toxic influence or innocent love? The culés fans are divided: in

This scandal relaunches the debate about the private lives of footballers. The FIFPRO report warns of the overload in the calendar –Yamal has played 9,772 minutes in two years–, but Barça points to the “Nicole factor” as the catalyst. Laporta, pragmatic as always, has invoked confidentiality clauses in Yamal’s contract to protect his recovery. If the breakup is confirmed, it could be the “poisoned gift” that saves their season… or marks the end of their innocence. Meanwhile, in the Ciutat Esportiva, the locker room murmurs: “Love hurts more than pubalgia.” Barça prioritizes trophies over broken hearts; Yamal, will you accept the ultimatum?