Barcelona have confirmed that teenage winger Lamine Yamal will be out of action for up to three weeks after suffering a recurrence of his groin injury, ruling him out of Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria this month. The 18-year-old made his first start since August in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain but was forced to deal with a flare-up of the same issue that had already kept him sidelined for four matches.
The injury reignites tension between Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and Spain’s national team setup after Flick previously blamed Yamal’s participation in September’s qualifiers for aggravating his condition. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, however, downplayed any suggestion of a rift, stressing that the focus should be on the crucial qualifiers ahead. “There is no conflict with Flick. We have two very important matches, and that’s what matters. The rest is secondary,” he said after naming his squad.
De la Fuente sought to draw a line under the matter, clarifying that Yamal felt discomfort after the PSG clash but insisting that such situations are part of football. Flick, for his part, admitted that communication with the Spain camp could be improved, though both coaches have exchanged brief messages in recent weeks.
Yamal’s setback also raises concerns for Barcelona, with the highly anticipated Clásico against Real Madrid scheduled for October 26. His absence adds to Spain’s selection worries, with Nico Williams and Dani Carvajal both unavailable and Alvaro Morata omitted from the squad due to a slow start at Como. Williams has been sidelined since sustaining a groin problem in Athletic Bilbao’s 6-0 win over Turkey, with his club reportedly urging caution over his fitness.
De la Fuente acknowledged the risks players face, stating that injuries are part of the game and that if a player is fit for his club, he is naturally taking those risks on the pitch. Despite the setbacks, Spain remain top of Group E with six points from two games and will play Georgia in Elche on October 11 before hosting Bulgaria in Valladolid on October 14.
The timing of Yamal’s injury has created frustration for both Barcelona and Spain, but De la Fuente stressed that the mission ahead remains unchanged: securing qualification for the World Cup.
