Spain manager assures Lamine Yamal will be available for World Cup opener | OneFootball

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal looks set to play in Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde, despite missing their last warm-up game. The 18-year-old has been out of action for the past month-and-a-half with a hamstring tear, and has been fighting to be as fit as possible for the World Cup.

The Blaugrana have reportedly given the green light for the teenage superstar to feature for 15 minutes against Cape Verde next Monday. That is despite the fact that he will miss their final warm-up friendly against Peru before La Roja are in action. Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz have all been left at Spain’s World Cup base in Chattanooga in the United States, while the rest of the squad have traveled to Puebla in Mexico.

De la Fuente confident on Lamine Yamal fitness

Speaking ahead of that friendly clash, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente appeared confident they would be available.

“Nico, Lamine and Víctor (Munoz) are meeting their recovery deadlines, they are doing very well. It was convenient for them to stay there these days working to do more specific work,” he explained to Cadena SER.

“I think all three will be available for the next match. That’s great news (…) If there are no problems in the next few days, we expect them to be ready for the 15th.”

“That’s more complicated. But I think all three of them will be available to play (…) We don’t know how many minutes they’ll play,” he responded when asked just how involved they would be.

Barcelona fitness issues going into the World Cup

Ahead of the tournament’s kick-off on Thursday night, Barcelona will already be nervous about some of the 16 players they have sent to the World Cup. Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo has already returned to Barcelona for treatment on a minor hamstring problem, while Raphinha has admitted that he is not at peak fitness. Fermin Lopez will miss the tournament due to a broken metatarsal.