The relationship between FC Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has once again been strained, with Lamine Yamal at the center of the storm. The 17-year-old prodigy, already a crucial player for both club and country, has become the subject of controversy over medical communication and player management.
Luis de la Fuente included Yamal in Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Georgia, unaware of the recurring pubis issues the youngster had been dealing with. Unlike PSG, who reported Fabián Ruiz’s injury immediately, Barça did not initially share details of Yamal’s condition.
The Injury That Will Not Go Away
This is not the first time Yamal’s fitness has caused problems. During the previous international break, he returned to Barcelona with worsening pubalgia after playing for Spain. The Blaugrana medical staff confirmed that the issue was limiting his training sessions and required careful management.
Following the match against PSG, Barça released an official statement:
“The pubis discomfort that Lamine Yamal has been suffering has reappeared. He will be unavailable against Sevilla, with an estimated recovery time of two to three weeks.”
This meant Yamal was automatically unavailable for Spain. The Federation, however, felt blindsided by the late communication and insisted that had they known, he would never have been called up in the first place.
Flick and De la Fuente in War of Words
Barça coach Hansi Flick publicly criticized Luis de la Fuente for not protecting players. The Spain manager responded calmly, but admitted he was surprised by Flick’s lack of empathy.
“There is no conflict with Flick. But yes, I was surprised by his words. I thought he would show empathy with the national coach,” De la Fuente said. “We are focused on the World Cup qualifiers, that is what matters right now.”
Although De la Fuente tried to downplay the situation, his disappointment was clear. A debate that should have been about football has now turned into a public clash between managers.
The Real Victim: Lamine Yamal
Once again, the biggest loser in this conflict is Lamine Yamal. The youngster will miss key matches for Barça and cannot help Spain in their path to the 2026 World Cup. With El Clásico approaching, Barça will be desperate to have him fit, while Spain must adjust without their rising star.
The controversy exposes a deeper problem: the urgent need for better communication between clubs and federations. Until that happens, the noise surrounding Lamine Yamal will continue, and fans can only wait for his full recovery.
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