Spain Coach Criticizes Barcelona’s Handling of Lamine Yamal’s Injury
Luis de la Fuente, the coach of Spain’s national football team, has expressed frustration regarding the lack of communication from FC Barcelona concerning Lamine Yamal’s injury status. Yamal was removed from the Spain squad prior to their matches against Georgia and Turkey after undergoing an invasive medical procedure that necessitates a recovery period of seven to ten days.
The rising star was included in the national team for the recent international break but faced complications after Barcelona’s management opted for treatment without prior notification to the Spain coaching staff. “We should have been informed about the treatment beforehand,” de la Fuente remarked about the situation.
Recently, Yamal had played a crucial role for Barcelona, logging significant minutes in matches against Elche, Club Brugge, and Celta Vigo, despite ongoing groin issues. De la Fuente stated, “Lamine joined the national team not knowing he had an underlying problem, nor did we have any information about his treatment or recovery process.” As a result, he was sent back home.
Yamal’s fitness has been a topic of concern throughout the season, with Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick previously remarking that the national team has not taken adequate care of the player. Flick reiterated the importance of managing Yamal’s condition collaboratively: “We need to ensure Yamal is properly looked after, both by us and the national team.” He expressed hope that Yamal would return to peak performance soon, but cautioned that the injury is not fully resolved.
To mitigate tensions, de la Fuente downplayed the conflict, stating that communication and understanding between the two parties are essential. “There is a need for good relations and information sharing,” he said, clarifying that decisions regarding Yamal’s treatment ultimately rest with Barcelona. “We were not aware of the procedure ahead of time.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, refuted claims that the club withheld critical information, stating, “We communicated everything to the national team as soon as we were informed about the treatment. Our priority is the health of our players.” Laporta indicated that the timing of Yamal’s recovery coincided with the national team’s matches, but he believes it should not adversely affect their World Cup qualifying chances.
Yamal has emerged as a dynamic force for Spain, contributing significantly to their triumph in Euro 2024 and their advance to the UEFA Nations League final. Addressing concerns about respect from Barcelona, de la Fuente emphasized the overarching importance of national pride and responsibility: “The welfare of the national team and the country outweigh personal grievances. We must remain calm; it is a significant responsibility to represent our nation.”
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