Player “deeply committed” to Spain; national team boss says he was “fine when he arrived”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has revealed that Lamine Yamal was left “very sad and hurt” after being forced to withdraw from the national team squad this week due to a groin injury.
The 18-year-old Barcelona forward had an invasive radiofrequency treatment on Monday to address ongoing discomfort caused by pubalgia, a groin condition that has troubled him for several months.
The procedure needs more than a week of rest, which ruled him out of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey. Although there are concerns the teenager has played too many games and another international call-up with very little at stake for Spain was not appropriate, De la Fuente said Yamal had been “deeply disappointed” to miss the matches.
“Lamine is sad,” said De la Fuente. “He’s a player deeply committed to the national team and very well-liked.
“He left very sad; he was looking forward to playing these matches. He wants to have a great season with his club, and he also has the Finalissima and the World Cup etched in his memory. He’s the one who suffers the most. He always wants to come.”
The Spain boss said he personally spoke to the teenager after receiving the medical update on Monday evening.
“When we received the report we let him rest,” said De la Fuente. “We went to his room and I spoke with him. I told him it was the first news he’d heard from the national team.
“I don’t know if he had any information about Barcelona. He was incredibly sad and hurt. He was fine when he arrived. We didn’t know anything until last night.”
