Trouble brewing: Barcelona and Spanish national team could clash again over Lamine Yamal’s involvement | OneFootball

According to a recent report from SPORT, tension could be quietly resurfacing between Barcelona and the Spanish national team over the management of Lamine Yamal’s fitness. 

The 18-year-old prodigy, who has been dealing with lingering pubalgia issues, is once again caught in the middle of club and country priorities.

Yamal has not been operating at full strength for weeks, and Barcelona’s medical staff have been carefully managing his minutes to prevent the discomfort from escalating. 

The club believes the teenager would benefit from a period of rest to allow his recovery to progress steadily, a view that Spain coach Luis de la Fuente reportedly does not fully share.

What’s the matter?

The matter has become a delicate point of discussion between both sides. 

Barcelona are concerned because Yamal’s physical condition has not yet reached 100%, and they fear a recurrence similar to what happened earlier this season. 

Hansi Flick had previously expressed frustration after Yamal returned from Spain’s September camp with an aggravated injury, having played over 150 minutes despite not being completely fit. 

Lamine Yamal’s participation agianst Club Brugge will be key. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Although the tension between Flick and de la Fuente has since eased, communication between the two camps is described as “limited”, particularly when it comes to managing Yamal’s workload. 

Despite Barcelona’s preference to rest their teenage sensation, the reality is that Yamal has been a regular starter since the October international break. He has featured in every match since, accumulating 317 minutes.

De la Fuente’s message

Luis de la Fuente, however, is said to hold a different view. 

From his perspective, if Yamal is able to play for Barcelona in demanding fixtures like El Clasico and the Champions League, then he should also be available to help Spain in their quest for World Cup qualification.

As a result, the decision on whether to include Yamal in the upcoming squad, for matches against Georgia and Turkey, could hinge on his involvement against Club Brugge.

For now, all eyes remain on how Flick handles the winger’s minutes in Belgium.