Rashford vs Yamal: Did Barcelona treat their stars unequally?

It wouldn’t be Barcelona without a little drama, would it?

The Catalan giants have found themselves under the microscope again — this time over claims of double standards involving Marcus Rashford and teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Spanish reports suggested the two stars were handled differently for similar breaches of team rules.

Rashford, who’s enjoying a strong start to his loan spell from Manchester United, was benched last month for being late to a team meeting before the league clash with Getafe.

The twist? Yamal reportedly did the same thing ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League defeat to PSG — but still started the match.

Naturally, the rumor mill went into overdrive. But Hansi Flick wasn’t having any of it.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Flick fires back at the “nonsense” claims

The Barcelona boss wasted no time dismissing the accusations of favoritism. “I’d like to know where you’re getting that rumour from,” Flick said when asked about the supposed disparity.

“It’s b*******. It’s not true. At this club, with Deco and the rest of the professionals, I have a real relationship. I believe in my work. I have their trust, and they wouldn’t ask us for it. It’s rubbish. Whoever said it lied.”

That’s about as direct as it gets. Flick made it clear he calls the shots — not the higher-ups or the hype.

For Rashford, the controversy hasn’t slowed him down. The 27-year-old has bagged three goals and five assists in just 10 appearances, quickly becoming a key part of Flick’s front line.

After a few rocky seasons in Manchester, he seems to have found his spark again — or maybe just needed a little Mediterranean sunshine.

Sporting director Deco also backed the English forward, saying the club is pleased with his progress. “He’s on a simple loan, there’s no penalty, and if we want him, we have an option to buy,”

Deco told Mundo Deportivo. “It’s too early to talk about decisions for next season, but what matters is that we’re happy with him.”

So, was there really a case of unequal treatment? Flick says absolutely not — and Rashford’s performances seem to speak louder than the gossip.

Barcelona news and related links

• Hansi Flick breaks silence on rift with Lamine Yamal at Barcelona
• Why Barcelona Have Postponed Their Emotional Camp Nou Homecoming
• Barcelona star instantly names rival he'd sign for La Liga champions