Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has been ruled out of Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, the club confirmed on Friday.
The 18-year-old, who made his first start since August during Wednesday’s 2–1 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks.
Yamal had previously missed four games due to the same issue, and his premature return to action has sparked concern from Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who suggested the injury may have worsened due to Yamal’s involvement in Spain’s September qualifiers.
However, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente dismissed talk of a rift with Flick during his squad announcement on Friday.
“There is no conflict with Flick,” De la Fuente said. “I was just surprised by his comments, he has been a national team coach and should understand the context. We’re playing for a World Cup spot; that’s the priority.”
Flick had earlier revealed he and De la Fuente had exchanged brief messages about Yamal’s condition but noted that communication between their camps could improve.
De la Fuente also downplayed the injury concerns: “After the match, he had some discomfort—but who doesn’t? Our medical staff assessed him. That’s all. There’s nothing more to say.”
Yamal’s absence puts his participation in the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26 in doubt.
Spain will also be without Nico Williams and Dani Carvajal due to injury, while Álvaro Morata has been left out after a sluggish start to the season with Como. Williams, who suffered a groin injury in Spain’s 6–0 win over Turkey, has not featured since.
Addressing growing concerns about player fitness, De la Fuente said: “There’s always risk in football. If players are active for their clubs, they assume that risk. These are normal situations.”
Spain currently tops Group E with six points from two matches. They face Georgia in Elche on October 11, followed by Bulgaria in Valladolid on October 14.
AFP
