Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Lamine Yamal was “old enough” to make his own decisions after the 18-year-old winger waved a Palestinian flag during the club’s open-top bus parade celebrating its La Liga title. Yamal held the flag as Barcelona’s team bus moved through the streets of the city on Monday. The Spain international, who is Muslim, also shared photos of himself holding the flag on his Instagram account.

Yamal held the flag as Barcelona’s team bus moved through the streets of the city on Monday. The Spain international, who is Muslim, also shared photos of himself holding the flag on his Instagram account.

Speaking at a news conference, Flick was asked about Yamal’s decision to display the flag.

“This I don’t normally like,” Flick said. “I spoke with him. I said if he wants this, it is his decision. He is old enough. He’s 18 years old.”

Flick added that his main focus was on celebrating with supporters after Barcelona secured back-to-back titles.

“We are playing football and you can see what the people expect from us,” Flick said. “We are playing football to make the people happy. This is for me the first thing we have to do.”

Nearly 750,000 people were estimated to have gathered in the streets, according to local authorities.

The moment came amid growing global backlash against Israel over the humanitarian toll of the war in Gaza. Protests have also appeared across sport and culture, including in soccer, cycling, and basketball.

Spain is one of five countries boycotting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel’s inclusion.

Lamine Yamal is already widely considered one of the best soccer players in the world and is seen as one of the leading candidates to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the sport’s next global superstar.

He did not play in Barcelona’s title-clinching win over Real Madrid on Sunday because of injury. However, he is expected to be one of the top players at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in June and July.

Spain will begin its World Cup campaign on June 15 against Cape Verde before continuing Group H play against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

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