The Spanish national team will miss a rising star in their upcoming matches. Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old forward, was first picked by coach Luis de la Fuente for the games against Georgia on October 11 and Bulgaria on October 14. However, just hours after his selection became public, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced he was out. This unexpected news means Yamal will be sidelined for about two to three weeks due to a physical issue.
This wasn’t just a simple injury report, though. The RFEF’s statement hinted at some frustration with FC Barcelona. They noted that the decision to remove Yamal from the squad came only after Barcelona sent documents confirming the young player’s pubis problems. The RFEF made it clear they felt Barcelona was slow to share this vital information. “After the request for information made by the RFEF medical services yesterday, Barcelona’s medical services communicated this afternoon, once the official call-up was published, some complaints in the pubis area,” the federation’s note explained. It’s a classic case of club versus country, with a subtle jab thrown in.
This whole situation isn’t new; it follows an earlier disagreement between Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, and Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente. Flick had previously accused De la Fuente of playing Yamal during the last international break, even though the player was already feeling pain. Flick claimed, “Yamal was already in pain, didn’t train and received painkillers to play.” This past tension adds another layer to the current back-and-forth.
Luis de la Fuente spoke about the matter at his squad announcement press conference this past Friday. He didn’t shy away from the topic. “I only tell the truth,” De la Fuente stated. “Not my truth, the truth. Football is always played with discomfort. I won’t give medical details. Nothing happened. It seems he felt discomfort after the game. Only that.” It seems everyone has their own side of the story when it comes to player fitness and national duty.