This was Lamine Yamal's fully conscious gesture that has gone around the world

BarcelonaThe flag of Palestine that Lamine Yamal waved for about five minutes from the bus of the Liga del Barça celebration was held by a fan who was following the parade for a while. The azulgrana star maintained a low profile during the party, until on Passeig de Gràcia, before reaching the parade stop right in front of Casa Batlló, he himself asked for the flag to be brought to him. He did not shy away from the cameras while waving it: many fans captured an image that ended up going around the world for its symbolic and political weight.

It was a gesture made with full awareness. Although Lamine Yamal had never spoken out about the genocide in Palestine, he is not oblivious to it. In fact, his cousin and inseparable friend Mohamed Abde, who had made some gesture of support for the Palestinian people on his social media, was one of the first to share the image of the player with the flag of Palestine. Lamine Yamal doesn't make any gestures by chance, despite his youth: his inner circle explains that he is "very aware" of when he wants to send a message and that he is aware of the impact all his actions have. Even Pedro Sánchez has referred to it this Tuesday in the framework of a public appearance, in which he recalled that "Spain has recognized the state of Palestine and its right to exist".

For his part, Barça coach Hansi Flick said these are things he normally doesn't like, in reference to the fact that Lamine Yamal made a political gesture. "I have spoken with him and told him that if he wants to do it, it is his decision. He is over 18 years old, he is an adult. We are dedicated to playing football and we have to take into account what people expect from us," the German coach verbalized on the eve of Wednesday's visit to Vitoria, to face Alavés.

Lamine Yamal's closest circle, sensitive to the Palestinian peopleEverything he shares on his account has his final approval. Everything.Lamine Yamal's closest circle, sensitive to the Palestinian people

Writing this message was their decision. Just as it was to pick up the Palestinian flag, aware that the image would go around the world. His paternal family is Muslim. In fact, his grandmother Fátima raised and cared for him on weekends during his childhood in the Mataró neighborhood of Rocafonda. Even though his parents separated when he was very young and he went to live with his mother Sheila in Granollers – before moving to La Masia – he remained deeply rooted in this neighborhood.

Lamine Yamal has great affection for Fátima. When he started to break into the first team of Barça, he still went, from time to time, to his grandmother's house for a snack, as he did when he was little. She is the main influence who, last year, a few months before turning eighteen, made him celebrate his first Ramadan. Thus, a good part of Lamine Yamal's childhood is marked by Rocafonda, although when he signed for Barça, his maternal family moved to Barcelona –they have now bought them a house in Maresme– and he moved into La Masia.

Other sports personalities who have spoken out about the genocide Other sports personalities who have spoken out about the genocide

Furthermore, one of the favorite singers of the blaugrana star is Morad, who has also shown sensitivity to the cause of the Palestinian people. Morad, like other world-renowned artists such as Rosalía or Bad Gyal, was one of the participants in the massive concert-demonstration that the solidarity platform Act x Palestine organized in Barcelona on January 29. Pep Guardiola, former player and former coach of Barça and for nine seasons coach of Manchester City, also spoke out.

There are various world-recognized athletes who have sided with the Palestinian people. In a global showcase like the 2022 Football World Cup, many of the players of the Moroccan national team, as well as their coach in the 2022 World Cup, Walid Regragui, celebrated their victories by carrying Palestinian flags on the field. Former Real Madrid players Karim Benzema and Mesut Özil, Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah, NBA star Kyrie Irving, and Olympic medalist Ana Peleteiro are other world-class athletes who have condemned the genocide.