Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has hit out at the Spanish National team for their management of Lamine Yamal after discovering the youngster will be unable to feature in the Blaugrana’s upcoming La Liga clash with Valencia.
Yamal came back from national team duty in severe pain and was unable to take part in training.
The length of his absence remains uncertain, with the club already considering him doubtful for their opening UEFA Champions League fixture of the season.
What particularly angered the club, however, is how the Spanish national team handled his situation. La Roja and their staff could have entirely avoided the issue had they shown greater concern for the player’s wellbeing. In that case, Yamal might have been pain-free and available for selection.
Barcelona maintain that the Spanish national team were fully aware of his discomfort, as the club’s medical department had already communicated it to them. The doctors described his condition as acute pain and reassured the Catalans that Yamal would be taken care of.
Despite Spain having both matches under control, Luis de la Fuente kept Yamal on the pitch for over 70 minutes in each game during the international break. Barcelona believe this unnecessary workload worsened his injury, which might have been avoided had he been rested or substituted earlier.
Flick voiced his frustration in a press conference, criticizing the Spanish camp for administering painkillers to force Yamal’s involvement and showing little regard for the youngster’s wellbeing.
“He played for the national team despite discomfort. He played 75-78 minutes with discomfort and without training between matches. And that’s not looking after the players,” he said
“I think the Spanish national team has a great squad, the best players in the world, but they haven’t looked after their players and that’s news that saddens me.”
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