Comments come after the national team expressed “surprise and discomfort” at lack of communication on Yamal’s pubalgia treatment
Spanish football federation president Rafael Louzan has moved to ease speculation of friction between the national team and Barcelona over the handling of Lamine Yamal.
The 18-year-old forward has been managing pubalgia, a persistent groin issue that requires careful treatment, while playing for Barcelona in recent weeks.
Despite concerns about his workload, the 18-year-old was again called up by De la Fuente for Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey, even though Spain needs only a win against Georgia to mathematically seal qualification, and their position is already virtually unassailable.
This week Barcelona authorised the player to go through an “invasive radiofrequency procedure” to treat his groin condition, with Spain finding out about it only after the procedure was done. The team then subsequently released Yamal from the call-up but expressed their “surprise and discomfort” at not being informed ahead of time.
Louzan insisted the federation and clubs remain in regular contact regarding players’ fitness and dismissed talk of a rift between the national team and Barcelona.
“We have acted in a coordinated manner and will always do so because the feelings of the club come first, and in the national team, we must take great care of the players,” said Louzan. “They can rest assured that there will be no controversy in this regard.
“We do it with Lamine, of course, and with each of the players on the national team. The players, in the end, belong to the clubs and we have to have perfect coordination, as exists between the Spanish Football Federation and each club manager.
“Luis de la Fuente has a very good relationship with everyone. From our point of view, there was no tension.”
De la Fuente defended his decision to include Yamal in the Spain squad, pointing to the fact the player has been featuring for his club.
“I think the answer is obvious,” said De la Fuente. “I watched his last game, and I believe he’s in perfect condition. His coach said he was ready to play.
“He’s getting back to being the player he always has been, and we celebrate that. We have two very important games and we need to field our best players.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has previously criticised Spain for their handling of Yamal, saying he was “very sad” that the national team were not “taking care of the player”.
