Real Madrid star defends Lamine Yamal amid row between Barcelona-RFEF over Spain NT absence | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal has been in the news again this week as FC Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) got embroiled in a row over the youngster’s unexpected withdrawal from the national team squad.

In their statement announcing the youngster’s release from the squad, the RFEF claimed that they were not informed about a treatment that Lamine underwent to treat his pubalgia issue until the day of the training camp.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente came out all guns blazing in criticism of Barcelona, accusing the club of ineffective communication and not respecting his decisions.

The Blaugrana, though, have maintained throughout that they had informed the RFEF medical staff about the developments immediately after they were made aware of the situation.

Huijsen defends Lamine Yamal

Amidst all this, Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen has come out in defence of Lamine, stating that it was normal for him to be absent from the national team camp as he was dealing with a fitness issue.

“He has a discomfort and it is normal for him to go home, I did the same,” Huijsen told MARCA (h/t SPORT).

Huijsen stands in support of Lamine. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The defender, who joined Real Madrid this summer from Bournemouth, compared the treatment received by Barcelona’s No. 10 to that of Vinicius Jr., saying:

“Lamine is a normal boy, he is 18 years old. Sometimes things are exaggerated. The same happens with Vinícius, who is an incredible player and a very good person, but when he does the slightest thing, he is criticised too much.”

He also sent a message to the media: “If we deserve criticism, give it to us, but many times it goes too far.”

Regarding the controversy sparked by the heated altercation between Lamine and Dani Carvajal during the Clasico and whether it affects morale in the Spain camp, the youngster downplayed the situation, saying:

“When we come here, we are teammates; when we play, we are rivals. On the pitch, we want to kill each other, but off it there is a very good atmosphere. It has to be that way.”