As the holy month of Ramadan commences this Wednesday across many nations, Muslim footballers plying their trade in Western leagues are once again tasked with balancing their religious observance of fasting with the rigorous demands of professional training and match schedules. Among them is Barcelona‘s prodigious talent, Lamine Yamal, who embarks on his second Ramadan period as a member of the first team, this time under the stewardship of the new German head coach, Hansi Flick.
According to reports from the Spanish newspaper “AS”, the medical staff at Barcelona have devised a specific nutritional plan for the young winger, aiming to mitigate the physical effects of fasting. For the Catalan club, facilitating such regimens is neither a novel challenge nor a significant disruption, given their prior experience with Muslim players. Specialists at the club have previously crafted similar dietary programs for athletes like Ousmane Dembélé, Franck Kessié, and Ansu Fati.
Navigating Nutrition and Performance
The cornerstone of this approach lies in a meticulously planned evening meal, or Iftar. The nutritional strategy must achieve a delicate balance: providing adequate nourishment for recovery and energy without leading to overconsumption, which could impair sleep quality or involve foods detrimental to athletic performance. Ensuring sufficient hydration is also a critical component of the plan.
Yamal’s first competitive fixture during this Ramadan will be a La Liga encounter against Levante this coming Sunday. The match is scheduled to take place at the iconic Camp Nou stadium. Last season, the player wearing the number 10 jersey successfully managed his religious duties alongside his professional commitments. AS revealed that Barcelona’s management maintained close oversight of his physical condition throughout the period, delegating to the club’s nutrition expert the responsibility of formulating a balanced dietary schedule. This tailored plan was instrumental in helping Yamal preserve his fitness levels without his training regimen being adversely affected by the fast.