Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal will be absent for Spain‘s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey due to an ongoing groin issue.
The 18-year-old Yamal was called up to the national team last week but underwent a minor procedure in Barcelona on Monday without the knowledge of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to address his discomfort.
The RFEF expressed surprise at the lack of communication from Barça regarding Yamal’s situation, yet it acknowledged the need for him to rest for 7 to 10 days and granted permission for him to return to Barcelona.
“The RFEF’s medical services are surprised and concerned to learn at 1:47 p.m. on Monday, November 10, the day national team’s training camp commenced, that Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure to address his pubic discomfort that very morning,” stated the Federation.
“This procedure was executed without prior notice to the national team’s medical staff, who only received details through a report at 10:40 p.m. on Monday, which recommended a rest period of 7-10 days.
“Given this situation, and prioritizing the player’s health and well-being, the RFEF decided to release the player from the current squad.”
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, also expressed his astonishment regarding Barça’s handling of the matter and acknowledged the complexities of team management.
“There are procedures that occur outside of the RFEF — that’s just the way it is, and we must accept that,” he told RNE.
“I’ve never encountered a situation like this before. It doesn’t seem very normal to me. Of course, I was surprised, as were others.
“You’re left in the dark without any details, and I must emphasize that when it comes to health and fitness issues… it’s quite surprising.”
This situation adds another chapter to the ongoing club vs. country saga which began in September when Yamal first returned from international duty with the groin issue.
Barça manager Hansi Flick previously criticized Spain for not managing their players properly, which sparked a small exchange of remarks with La Roja coach De La Fuente, who dismissed Flick’s complaints.
Yamal missed four matches for Barça but returned for games against Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain at the end of September. He then sat out the defeat against Sevilla in October and missed Spain’s matches during the last international break.
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He has since started the last six games for Barça across all competitions, netting four goals and providing three assists; however, Flick stressed that he still grapples with the groin issue.
“We need to ensure his well-being,” Flick stated about Yamal’s ongoing recovery efforts. “In my view, he has shown more discipline. His training has significantly improved, and he is actively engaging in gym workouts along with daily treatments. It’s crucial for his recovery from this injury that he maintains this regimen.
“I believe he is on the path to regaining his peak form, but this injury is still a work in progress. We need to manage his recovery carefully, alongside the national team.”
Rayo Vallecano forward Jorge de Frutos has been called up to replace Yamal as Spain seeks to secure a spot in next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Spain can clinch their place in the finals by gathering four points from upcoming matches against Georgia and Turkey, though they may still qualify with fewer points if Turkey fails to defeat Bulgaria.
Yamal is expected to return for a challenging schedule after the international break, beginning with a home match against Athletic Club in La Liga and a face-off against Chelsea in the Champions League.