Barcelona's star winger Lamine Yamal has vowed to "come back better" after injuring his right ankle earlier this month during a La Liga match.

The 17-year-old, a key member of Spain's Euro 2024-winning side, hurt his ankle in a challenge during Barcelona's 1-0 loss at home to Leganes on December 15.

The club estimated at the time that Yamal would be out for up to four weeks.

"I am in a recovery process which I am very sure I will come back better from and with more determination," Yamal said in a video posted by Barcelona on social media on Friday.

"When you stop playing for a while, that's when you realise your work, what you are doing, and I will come back better than ever."

"I think it was just bad luck. In the end it was from a hit I took on the ankle, but these things happen, it can happen to anyone," he added.

Yamal has been an important player for Barcelona this season, registering six goals and 12 assists in 20 appearances.

The injury caused him to miss Barcelona's final La Liga game of the year, a damaging 2-1 home loss to Atletico Madrid on December 21.

The Catalan side face fourth-tier Barbastro in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey on January 4 before travelling to Jeddah for the four-team Spanish Super Cup.

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