Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed optimism that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will recover from a minor knee issue in time to face England in Sunday’s Nations League showdown in Madrid.
The 19-year-old star, who finished third in October’s Ballon d’Or voting, was ruled out of the World Champions’ Thursday trip to Prague to face the Czech Republic after picking up a knock during Barcelona’s 2-1 La Liga victory over Atlético Madrid on Sunday.
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Speaking on Wednesday, De la Fuente clarified the nature of Yamal’s injury and explained the decision to let him remain in Barcelona for initial treatment before linking up with La Roja on Friday.
“He got hurt in the last match; he had some discomfort in one knee. He went for the usual treatment: a scan in Barcelona, and they saw he had inflammation and fluid in the knee—that meant he needed rest,” De la Fuente said. “Our medical staff and his medical staff have a fantastic relationship, and I decided that his trip here should be avoided without knowing whether he’d be in any condition to play.”
Having spoken directly with the teenager, the Spain boss sounded confident about his availability for the weekend’s marquee clash against England.
“He’s doing a series of exercises with his physio and with the club that indicate the recovery is going well,” De la Fuente noted. “We believe, I’m optimistic, that on Friday he’ll be with us.”
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De la Fuente also brushed aside suggestions that the young forward receives preferential treatment within the national team setup compared to his teammates.
“He has no privileges, and his teammates are relaxed about it, because we treat everyone the same,” he insisted. “In similar situations we would have done exactly the same for any other player, and the players know that.”
