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Barcelona have confirmed that Lamine Yamal has suffered a relapse of the discomfort he was carrying in recent weeks, ruling him out of Saturday’s clash with Sevilla and Spain’s upcoming international fixtures. The teenager is expected to be sidelined for 2–3 weeks, a significant blow for both club and country.
Barcelona have been dealt another setback with Lamine Yamal, as the teenager has suffered a recurrence of the groin injury that has troubled him in recent weeks. The 18-year-old had only just returned to action, featuring in last Sunday’s La Liga win over Real Sociedad and then completing the full 90 minutes against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek. However, the relapse means he is now set for another spell on the sidelines, leaving Barcelona without one of their brightest attacking outlets.
The situation has sparked fresh debate over how Yamal’s workload has been managed. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick had already been critical of Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, accusing him of not handling the player’s fitness issues with enough caution during the last international break. Yamal returned from duty with La Roja carrying discomfort, which Barcelona felt could have been avoided had he been rested.
Yet this latest setback also raises uncomfortable questions for Barcelona themselves. Despite knowing Yamal had been carrying a niggling problem, the club brought him straight back into the starting XI for two demanding fixtures in the space of four days. In hindsight, pushing him into such heavy minutes so quickly may have contributed to his relapse.
The bigger concern now is the long-term impact on a player still in the very early stages of his career. Yamal has become a crucial figure for both Barcelona and Spain, but the constant tug-of-war between club and country and the pressure to play him in big games risks aggravating his development and increasing the chance of recurring injuries.
For Flick, this is a major blow to his plans in the short term, with key fixtures ahead. For Barcelona, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required in managing the fitness of their most prized young star, especially as tension with the Spanish Football Federation continues to simmer in the background.
Spain face Georgia and Bulgaria in their next World Cup qualifiers, and despite Barcelona’s preference for their starlet to rest, head coach Luis de la Fuente initially included Yamal in his squad. This decision sparked tension, as Barça had already expressed concerns over his fitness. Hours after the announcement, however, it was revealed that the 18-year-old’s injury had flared up again, confirming he would miss both the club match and the international break.
According to Mundo Deportivo, de la Fuente was already aware of Yamal’s issue before naming his squad. He even spoke directly with the player on Thursday to assess his condition. While the coach was notified of the problem, he insisted he was obligated to select Yamal unless Barcelona provided an official medical report. Even so, the plan was never to play him in Spain’s matches, with his call-up seen more as a formality than a genuine option for selection.
This incident highlights ongoing friction between Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation. Only last month, Yamal returned from international duty carrying pubis discomfort after playing in both September fixtures, sparking frustration from the Catalan club. Although relations have calmed somewhat since then, his relapse shows the risk of overplaying such a young talent.
For Barcelona, Yamal’s absence comes at a difficult time, with the team already juggling injuries and key fixtures ahead. For Spain, it raises further questions about how de la Fuente manages the balance between nurturing young talent and respecting the concerns of clubs, especially when it comes to players at the heart of long-term plans.
