Barcelona's Yamal to continue conservative treatment for pubalgia

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will continue with conservative treatment for a persistent groin problem rather than undergo surgery immediately, the club and the 18 year old’s camp said, as they monitor an injury that has limited his effectiveness since late August. The decision comes after a series of missed matches, specialist consultations and visible dips in performance that were most evident in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Yamal first reported discomfort in late August and played through pain during the September international break, with reports indicating he received painkilling injections to represent Spain. The problem, widely described as pubalgia or a sports hernia, caused him to miss a spell of club matches and Barcelona’s Champions League opener. He returned intermittently, playing full matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid but also being sidelined again for several weeks in October. Club staff and Yamal’s representatives say he is not yet at full fitness but prefer to continue physiotherapy, load management and conservative measures while reassessing progress day by day. Surgery remains an option if symptoms do not...