Lamine Yamal, 18, ‘has split from pop star girlfriend Nicki Nicole, 25’ – as Barcelona star ‘dismisses rumours he cheated during their relationship’

Lamine Yamal said that he broke up with his girlfriend, Argentinian singer Nicki Nicole, after rumors that she was cheating on him with an Italian celebrity.

Journalist and YouTuber Javier de Hoyos read out on national Spanish television on Saturday a message he claimed to have received from the young Barcelona star, confirming the split and insisting he had not been unfaithful.

The couple went public with their relationship at the end of August, when 18-year-old Lamine went out with Nicki to celebrate her 25th birthday, about a month after they were seen kissing at a nightclub.

Javier de Hoyos, who announced for the first time that they were seeing each other, said the following in the showbiz program: D Corazon in La 1 BBC1’s Spanish equivalent: ‘Lamine Yamal has just written to me.

‘This is a privilege. Lamine told me that he and his girlfriend, Nicki Nicole, as you know, are no longer together.

‘But there are a few things he wants to clear up because there’s been a lot of speculation over the last few days about whether he’s been unfaithful to Nicki.’

The 18-year-old actress went public with the 25-year-old Argentinian pop star over the summer

Javier, one of D Corazon’s two presenters, said, looking at the mobile phone he was holding in his hand: ‘He clarified this matter. He says they are no longer together and it wasn’t because of any infidelity. We just left and that was it.

‘Everything that comes out has nothing to do with our relationship.

‘Lamine told me the trip to Italy had nothing to do with any of this, that when he left he was no longer dating Nicki and wasn’t with anyone else.’

Nearly 24 hours after the show aired, neither Lamine nor Nicki have yet commented on social media.

The star couple shared clips of a romantic helicopter ride during the holiday earlier this month, while the Spain international was sidelined with a groin injury.

Reports in the Spanish media earlier this week suggested that Lamine had secretly met Italian influencer Anna Gegnoso during a recent trip to Milan, reigniting rumors of a past relationship between the pair.

The youngster, who is second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings behind winner Ousmane Dembele, has hit the headlines recently due to his ongoing groin problems and reports that he has bought Gerard Pique and Shakira’s former home.

Catalan newspaper Sport says that Lamine has a condition called pubalgia, which causes muscles in the groin area to gather and cause discomfort.

Yamal has a groin condition that could be chronic and cause him lasting pain throughout his career.

Barcelona chiefs are said to fear the condition could become chronic without obvious treatment.

On Saturday, the footballer posted a photo showing himself in front of a luxury property described as the home that belonged to former Barcelona star Pique and singer Shakira before their ugly split in 2022.

This comes after reports in the Spanish media that he had bought it for £9.5 million and planned to live there with his cousin and a friend.