Playing through pain! Lamine Yamal makes hand injury point to ex-Real Madrid doctor following controversial bandage comments aimed at Barcelona superstars

Niko Mihic, who once worked in the medical department at Santiago Bernabeu, has questioned why so many Blaugrana players have taken to wearing wristbands and bandages during matches.

Ballon d’Or contender Raphinha and Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong are among those to have sported strapping this season. Teen sensation Yamal has also been taped up since suffering an apparent injury during training in mid-February.

Mihic has said: “It could be that they're designing strategy games, playing a lot of table football and tendonitis... in the same way that it could be that they haven't bribed Negreira. I don't know what's going on, but what I mean is that any doctor knows that if you want easier venous access, it's in the hands and wrists.”

Another doctor, Antoni Mora, has countered those claims by saying: “It's pure superstition. Players develop a habit, and if they play well while wearing it, then they keep it.”

Yamal made a point of referencing the injury that he is nursing after starring for Barca in their thrilling 3-3 Champions League semi-final draw with Inter. He has highlighted how he is playing through the pain, with his fingers strapped, in an obvious nod to Mihic’s comments.

Yamal did not keep his bandages on for the entire 90 minutes against Inter, as he once again sought to end any debate regarding supposed cover-ups. He will hope to avoid any more ailments as Barca chase down La Liga and Champions League title glory.