Luis de la Fuente, the coach of the Spanish national team, has expressed his strong displeasure with the way Barcelona has handled the injury of their young player Lamine Yamal, emphasizing that he has never witnessed a similar situation throughout his coaching career. De la Fuente was surprised by the club’s decision to treat groin pain using radio waves without notifying the national team’s medical staff.
According to the Spanish newspaper “AS,” the Spanish Federation announced the exclusion of Lamine Yamal from the national team’s squad for the matches against Georgia and Turkey, expressing its dissatisfaction with Barcelona’s handling and the lack of medical coordination between the two parties.
The Spanish Federation stated: “The medical services of the Spanish Football Federation express their astonishment and displeasure after learning at 13:47 on Monday, November 10, the day the national team camp officially began, that the player Lamine Yamal underwent an interventional treatment using radio waves to treat his groin pain on the same morning.”
The statement pointed out that “this procedure was carried out without any prior communication with the national team’s medical staff, as we only received a medical report at 22:40 on the same night, indicating the specialist doctor’s recommendation that the player needs rest for 7 to 10 days.”
In statements to “RNE” radio, De la Fuente expressed his surprise at Barcelona’s behavior hours after the official statement was released.
He said: “There are procedures taken outside the scope of the Federation, and this is what sometimes happens, and we have to accept it. I have never experienced a situation like this before, and I don’t think it’s normal. We were all surprised, because when we don’t receive any information or details about a health issue of this magnitude, it’s natural to be surprised.”
This incident increases the tension between Barcelona and the Spanish Federation, especially with the great pressure in the match schedule and the summoning of the Catalan team’s players to the “La Roja” camps.
Barcelona breathes a sigh of relief
Barcelona felt relieved after receiving a positive medical report from a Belgian expert specializing in the muscular condition of Lamine Yamal, one of the team’s most important talents.
The Catalan club took careful measures to follow up on the player’s condition, after the coaching staff led by Hans Flick felt the need to ensure the developments of his injury.
The newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” stated that Barcelona sought the help of a Belgian doctor specializing in the treatment of adductor muscle injuries (sports hernia) to obtain a reliable medical opinion.
This doctor is considered one of the leading names in the world in this field, having dealt with more than 3,000 similar cases among athletes.
Dr. Pruna, head of Barcelona’s medical staff, coordinated with the Belgian doctor to supervise Yamal’s examination and follow up on his recovery process.
The newspaper revealed that the Belgian doctor expressed his satisfaction with the player’s physical condition, confirming that the treatment program is progressing on the right track, with a clear improvement in his condition.
The Belgian expert confirmed in his conversation with Barcelona’s staff that the most important thing about treating adductor muscle injuries is early detection and starting intensive treatment, which is what happened with Lamine Yamal.
However, he stressed the need for the player to adhere to the instructions of doctors and coaches to maintain his level and avoid any setbacks.
There is no concern in Barcelona about Lamine Yamal’s physical condition, especially after his distinguished level in recent weeks.
However, the club wanted to get the opinion of a global expert to strengthen confidence in the treatment plan.
In the same context, coach Hans Flick spoke during the press conference that preceded the match against Celta Vigo about the development of the player’s mentality and discipline, saying: “Lamine has changed his discipline, and he is better now, he works hard both on the field and in the gym, and it is very important for this injury that he continues in this approach.”
Barcelona feels reassured about Yamal’s condition, who continues to work hard to maintain his readiness and provide his best.
The Belgian expert confirmed in his conversation with Barcelona’s staff that the most important thing about treating adductor muscle injuries is early detection and starting intensive treatment during the early stages, which is what happened with Lamine Yamal.
However, he stressed at the same time the need for the player to fully adhere to the instructions of doctors and coaches to maintain his high level and avoid any future setbacks.
