In an urgent move reflecting the growing concern within the Catalan club, Barcelona president Joan Laporta held a closed and emergency meeting on Monday with head coach Hansi Flick and young star Lamine Yamal, following the team’s painful 2–1 defeat to arch-rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico.

This meeting, held less than 24 hours after the loss, carries significant meaning — both in its timing and in who attended.

20 minutes at the training ground

According to Catalan newspapers, the meeting was far from ordinary. Joan Laporta waited until all players and most staff had left the training facility at the “Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.” Then, the president headed to the coach’s office to hold the three-way summit.

The meeting didn’t last long — roughly 20 minutes — before Laporta left the premises. The short duration, along with the secrecy surrounding it, suggests it wasn’t a tactical or analytical discussion, but rather a direct and decisive presidential message.

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Presidential discontent and urgent response

While details of the closed-door conversation remain undisclosed, sources close to the club suggest that Laporta clearly expressed his frustration with the team’s performance in El Clásico.

His discontent wasn’t just about losing three points — it was about the “image” the team projected in such a decisive match, which widened the gap with leaders Real Madrid to five points.

Reports indicate that the club is currently in an “extremely sensitive period.” After a run of positive results, the Clásicodefeat reignited doubts about the team’s ability to compete — making “immediate action” necessary to address any cracks that might emerge within the dressing room.

Why Lamine Yamal?

The main question raised by Catalan media is: why Lamine Yamal specifically? The presence of Hansi Flick, who missed the match due to suspension, made sense as the team’s head coach. But summoning an 18-year-old player to a meeting of this level carried deeper implications:

• Supporting the “gem”: Laporta may have wanted to send a message of direct support to Yamal, who appeared dejected after the game — especially following his on-field clash with Dani Carvajal and his pre-match comments. The president might be trying to protect the future “icon” of his project.

• Assigning responsibility: On the other hand, the message could be that the club — through its president and coach — now sees Yamal, despite his age, as a true on-field leader who shares accountability for results alongside his manager.

• Aligning visions: The most likely explanation is that Laporta wanted to ensure that the two key pillars of his project — Flick and Yamal — remain aligned, and that the loss won’t affect their relationship or their confidence in the club’s vision.

Whatever the case, the “20-minute summit” shows that Joan Laporta is closely monitoring the situation. The El Clásicodefeat clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed, and the coming days will be crucial in determining how the team responds on the pitch.