Barcelona and Spain at Odds Over Lamine Yamal’s Injury Management
For the second time within two months, tensions between Barcelona and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have escalated due to the handling of Lamine Yamal‘s ongoing groin injury.
In September, Barcelona‘s head coach Hansi Flick expressed his frustration regarding Spain’s management of Yamal’s fitness issues during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Turkey and Bulgaria, alleging a lack of care for their young talents.
Recently, it was the Spanish team and coach Luis de la Fuente who were left “surprised” after Yamal, an 18-year-old forward, was withdrawn from the national squad ahead of crucial matches against Georgia and Turkey, which are pivotal for their chances to secure a spot in the upcoming finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Yamal was initially called up by Spain last Friday, and he contributed to Barcelona‘s 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo by playing the entire match and scoring a goal. However, upon joining the national team in Madrid on Monday, he was released from duty on Tuesday after Barcelona advised that he required 7-10 days of rest following a procedure to address his groin injury.
This incident marks another chapter in the ongoing discord between Barcelona and the RFEF, with both organizations needing to prioritize Yamal’s long-term health and career.
RFEF’s Frustration Over Yamal’s Withdrawal
The RFEF expressed frustration at feeling sidelined and misrepresented, as coach De la Fuente described the situation as unprecedented. He remarked, “I’ve never experienced a situation like this before. I don’t think it’s very normal.”
This is the second consecutive instance where Spain has lost Yamal shortly after his inclusion in the squad. Last October, on the same day he was announced as part of the national team, Barcelona stated Yamal would miss an upcoming match against Sevilla due to lingering issues. Despite playing for Barcelona before the recent international break, Yamal underwent a significant medical procedure on Monday.
The RFEF’s frustration particularly stems from being inadequately informed; they received notification of Yamal’s condition late Monday night, after he had reported for international duty, which recommended several days of rest.
De la Fuente noted that Yamal, who was part of the team that won the 2024 European Championship, had already accumulated over 8,000 minutes in competitive play before reaching the age of 18, an unprecedented workload for a player of his age.
Both Barcelona and Spain must navigate this situation carefully for Yamal’s well-being.
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