Lamine Yamal’s Sudden Exit from Spain Squad Sparks Mystery and Shakes Up Coach Luis de la Fuente’s Strategy

Lamine’s journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster lately. After picking up an injury during Spain’s latest camp, the young Barcelona star had to ease back into his groove—regaining his lightning-quick pace and silky dribbling while still putting up solid numbers on the scoreboard. Given his undeniable talent, Barcelona didn’t hesitate to slot him into a key role, and naturally, Spain called him up again for their upcoming fixtures. But here’s the kicker: despite the call-up, Lamine won’t be joining the squad—and for a reason that’s left Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, visibly rattled. The nerve-wracking surprise? Lamine underwent a radiofrequency treatment for his ongoing pubic discomfort on the very day the national team’s training camp was kicking off—completely blindsiding the Spanish Football Federation’s medical team. Barcelona insists they kept Spain in the loop right away, but the conflicting stories have stirred up quite the controversy. Luis de la Fuente didn’t hold back his frustration, calling the whole situation “unprecedented” and “far from normal.” This clash isn’t just about one player—it highlights ongoing tensions between Barcelona and the Spanish national side over player health and communication. For a club already weary from watching some of its brightest gems sidelined by injuries while on national duty, this episode feels like yet another thorn in their side. LEARN MORE

After sustaining an injury during Spain‘s most recent call-up, Lamine has needed a few games to regain his speed and dribbling skills, all while maintaining impressive scoring statistics. Consequently, Barcelona have given him a prominent role, which led to the national team including him in the squad for the upcoming games. However, Yamal will be unable to join the team due to a surprising reason that has outraged coach Luis de la Fuente.

“The Medical Services of the RFEF wish to express their surprise and discomfort after learning at 13:47 on Monday, November 10, the day of the start of the official training camp with the national team, that player Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure for the treatment of his pubic discomfort that same morning. This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the medical staff of the National Team,” RFEF expressed on their website.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have taken Lamine to see Dr. Ernest Schilders, a leading expert in this type of pubalgia. Although it was reported that he has an initial and mild case, the 18-year-old star has undergone radiofrequency treatment to speed up his recovery and help him reach his best level. In addition, the Culers allegedly notified Spain immediately, contradicting the recent statement from the RFEF.

After the situation with Lamine, coach Luis de la Fuente did not hesitate to break his silence and express his clear dissatisfaction: “There are procedures that take place outside the federation (RFEF)… I’ve never experienced a situation like this before, I don’t think it’s very normal… I was surprised, you had no news and didn’t know any details, and then they tell you about it, especially when it comes to health issues, you’re left surprised,“ he said, via RNE Deportes.

Lamine Yamal playing for Spain.

Not just Lamine: Barcelona stars keep falling to Spain’s injury curse in recent years

While Lamine Yamal is the most recent Barcelona star to suffer an injury while playing for Spain, he is not the only one. During his rapid ascent in elite soccer, Pedri was called up to the national team a few years ago. Despite being a young player, he participated in both the UEFA Euro and the Olympic Games consecutively. This intense schedule led to an injury that sidelined him for several weeks, enraging the anger of Barcelona.

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FC Barcelona have made a key decision on Lamine Yamal’s lingering groin injury ahead of Spain games

Barcelona’s injury concerns escalated further as more players suffered injuries while representing Spain. During UEFA Euro 2024, Gavi endured a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated lateral meniscus injury. Although many consider it as an accidental injury, the Culers are reportedly blaming excessive playing time and the national team’s management of his physical condition.

Given Barcelona’s long history of injuries with Spain, they may be looking to protect their physically injured players from participating in the national team games. While the players have not declined call-ups, nor has the club formally expressed dissatisfaction with these summonses, tensions reportedly exist. The national team reportedly believes there is a lack of transparency, while the club feels there is not enough management of the players’ minutes and workloads.