Copyright Athlon Sports
The first El Clásico of the 2025 season brought back the old rivalry mood between Real Madrid and Barcelona. But things got more heated than expected, leading the Spanish Football Federation President, Rafael Louzán, to share his thoughts on the situation. For over a decade, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona was one of the most intense rivalries in sports. Even though Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi never had personal conflicts, players like Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Pepe, Iker Casillas, and Jordi Alba were constantly provoking each other and keeping the tension alive. While many clashes happened on the field, the beefs usually stayed there. When it was time to play for Spain, players would leave club rivalries behind and play together — but this time, that might not be the case. Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid’s and Spain’s captain, was vocal about Lamine Yamal’s comments against Los Blancos, and many fans believe things could get tense inside the national team when the two are forced to play side by side. On the other hand, Federation President Rafael Louzán doesn’t think the situation will escalate. He believes the players will find a way to move on and communicate. “I don’t like mess, I’m a conciliatory person,” Louzán said. “It was a heated moment during the game, it’s a high-voltage match and I think it’ll stay there [Carvajal and Yamal’s issue]. There’s nothing else.” “They’re two players we need very much, they’re two icons of Spanish and world soccer and for that reason, it won’t go any further.” Barcelona Fans Want Yamal to Refuse to Play for Spain with Dani Carvajal The week following El Clásico has been full of developments. Barcelona canceled a marketing appearance where Lamine Yamal was set to speak to the press, Aurélien Tchouaméni publicly challenged him, and now Barcelona fans are calling for Yamal to refuse to play for Spain as long as Carvajal remains in the squad. The motivation may go beyond the rivalry between the clubs. For decades, Catalunya — the region where Barcelona is located — has been considered an autonomous community within Spain. For many locals born and raised there, they don’t identify as Spanish. The idea of building a team made up of Catalan players has existed in people’s minds since the early 2000s, when La Masia began producing some of the best players in the world. The beef between Lamine Yamal and Dani Carvajal might not end anytime soon. In the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, the two players are likely to discuss what happened — behind closed doors.
