Spanish FA expresses ‘surprise’ as Lamine Yamal withdrawn from squad after groin procedure

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has expressed its “surprise and displeasure” after Lamine Yamal was withdrawn from national team duty having undergone treatment on a recurring groin injury.

The RFEF claimed Spain’s medical team had not been given prior notice that the Barcelona forward would be undergoing the procedure and were only made aware on Monday, after November’s international camp had begun.

The federation said Yamal, 18, underwent an invasive radio frequency procedure on Monday morning to treat the discomfort in his groin. The RFEF explained it was informed of this on Monday afternoon and subsequently received a medical report that evening recommending a rest period of between seven and ten days.

The RFEF said it had decided to release Yamal from November’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey to prioritise “the player’s health and wellbeing”.

“We trust he will recover favourably and wish him a speedy and full recovery,” a statement from the federation read.

In a statement of their own Barcelona said the RFEF were “immediately notified” following the procedure and that they are in “constant communication” with the governing body.

The club insist they acted in “a responsible manner and coordinated alongside the player, with the only goal to ensure his optimal recovery”.

It marks the second successive international camp Yamal has missed. In October, Barcelona announced the forward was set to be sidelined for up to three weeks due to a recurrence of his groin injury, just hours after he was named in Spain’s squad for that month’s international fixtures.

Yamal missed four matches in September with a groin injury after his return from international duty, and a further game in October, but has since started Barca’s last six matches in all competitions.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick criticised Spain’s use of Yamal during September’s international window, claiming he joined the camp with a minor problem, that he did not complete a full training session with the national team, and that he even took painkillers to play against Bulgaria and Turkey.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente insisted “zero risks” had been taken.

Yamal has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, providing six goals and six assists.

Spain play Georgia on Saturday and conclude their World Cup qualifying group stage campaign against Turkey on Tuesday.

The latest episode in Barca-Spain dispute

Yamal leaving the national camp is great news for Barcelona, and the latest episode of the ongoing tensions between the club and the RFEF over the management of the teenager.

Spain have not hidden their disappointment after having to exclude Yamal for their last two World Cup qualifiers, against Georgia and Turkey — and in a way it has to be read as a statement that, this time, seeing Yamal injured was absolutely not their fault.

Two months ago, when the 18-year-old returned from international duty with a groin injury after starting in two games for Spain, Barca coach Hansi Flick did not hold back from criticising the way his Spain counterpart Luis de la Fuente managed Yamal.

Both Barca and the RFEF tried to ease the pressure back then with talks between Deco, the club’s sporting director, and Aitor Karanka, now at the RFEF, to find a better way to move on from that.

But both coaches have openly admitted they still have not held a private conversation among them since Flick took over the Barca job.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s position is that they are entitled to look after their players, and treating them with procedures that can only help his recovery is a part of that.

This is also an acknowledgement from the player’s side that he is determined to take care of his injury. Flick said last Friday that something had changed in Yamal’s mindset towards his injury.

“He’s changed his discipline, he is much better, training well as well as in the gym and treatments,” Flick said. “He is there every day. It’s important for this injury he stays like this.”