Lamine Yamal was left out of Spain’s national team before the matches against Georgia and Turkey, a decision that reignited the conflict between the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) and Barcelona. According to the federation, the reason was that the player underwent an invasive procedure to treat a pubalgia without prior notice to Spain’s medical staff. The situation, already tense, now makes the lack of harmony between the two institutions even more evident.
The cut and the federation’s discomfort
In a statement released on Tuesday, the RFEF said it was caught by surprise with the information that Yamal had undergone a radiofrequency treatment on Monday morning, the very day the players were due to report to the national team. According to the federation, the report on the procedure arrived only at night, and it recommended seven to ten days of rest. For that reason, the federation decided to release the player from the current call-up and named Jorge De Frutos as his replacement.
The note also mentioned the “discomfort” caused by the lack of communication between the club and the national team, which shows the tension that had already been noticed for weeks. Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s coach, had expressed concern about the forward’s physical condition and even publicly asked Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, to be careful with the young player. Even so, the disagreement over how to handle the treatment ended up leading to the cut and, as a result, to an open crisis.
Player’s health and political climate
Yamal’s treatment was carried out under the supervision of Barcelona’s medical department, which opted for the procedure to relieve discomfort in the pubic area. The club believes it acted correctly, prioritizing the athlete’s health. The RFEF, however, considers that the lack of formal notice compromised the national team’s planning.
At just 18 years old, Yamal is central to both Barcelona and Spain. His physical condition has been a topic of debate since the start of the season, and the episode reinforces the dispute over control of the player’s management. The federation said it prioritized the player’s well-being and wished him a quick recovery, but the tone of the statement shows there is more involved than a simple medical concern.