RFEF promise cautious approach with Lamine Yamal amid Barcelona worries | OneFootball

The March international break has already delivered a major setback for FC Barcelona, with Raphinha ruled out for up to five weeks after suffering an injury while representing Brazil in a friendly against France.

The timing could not be worse for Hansi Flick, whose side is entering a decisive stretch in both La Liga and the Champions League, where squad depth and fitness will be crucial.

With Raphinha sidelined, the responsibility on key figures like Pedri and Lamine Yamal has increased significantly, prompting concern within the Catalan club over player workload during the international break.

According to SPORT, Barcelona have urged Spain manager Luis de la Fuente to exercise caution with Yamal ahead of the upcoming friendly against Egypt. The 17-year-old winger featured for 63 minutes in Spain’s recent match against Serbia, and has since trained normally.

However, there remains some internal concern given his heavy schedule this season and his earlier physical issues, including pubalgia that required careful management at the start of the campaign.

Barcelona’s worries have been eased by reassurances from the RFEF, which has maintained close communication with the club. The federation has made it clear that no risks will be taken, with Yamal’s minutes and overall workload set to be carefully managed.

Another factor working in Barcelona’s favour is the location of Spain’s next fixture. The match against Egypt will be played at the RCDE Stadium, meaning minimal travel demands for the club’s players and reducing physical strain during an already congested period.

While Yamal himself is eager to feature as much as possible, all parties involved are aligned on avoiding unnecessary risks.

However, his status for both the Spanish national team and Barcelona is so high that no one would want to take any risks with him at this point in time. Hopefully, Lamine Yamal will return to his club side in the best of health when this break ends.