Yamal vows to come back stronger for Barcelona
Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal believes he will be a better player when he returns from an injury that has kept him out since the middle of December and threatens to ruin his new year as well.
The 17-year-old damaged his ankle during a 1-0 defeat to Leganes, and Barcelona lost its last game of the year against Atletico Madrid without him too, a result that saw Diego Simeone's side take over from Hansi Flick's side at the top of LaLiga's table.
Barcelona has struggled to fire without the star winger, having slumped previously when he was absent with a different ankle issue, but he is sure when he returns things will turn around for him and the club.
"I am in the recovery process and I am very sure that I will come back better and with great motivation," Yamal said.
"This year, the collective titles were missing at Barca, which is what excites me the most, but we will try to win the League, cup [Copa Del Rey], [UEFA] Champions League, and everything we can.
"I need to score more goals. I have improved a lot in assists, so that is my challenge."
Yamal's return to action, though, remains uncertain, and he has already been ruled out of Barcelona's first match of 2025 – a Cope Del Rey clash at minnow Barbastro, from Spain's fourth tier, on 5 January (AEDT).
Barcelona's first match after LaLiga's winter break is against Getafe on 19 January (AEDT).
