Barcelona worried about Lamine Yamal ahead of World Cup opener
Barcelona are concerned about Spain's plans to field Lamine Yamal in their World Cup opener against Cape Verde following his recent injury.
Tensions are rising at Barcelona over Spain’s management of Lamine Yamal's recovery. The Catalan giants are growing increasingly uneasy that the teenager could be rushed back into action before completing a full recovery process ahead of the national team’s World Cup opening match.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Yamal is progressing well and could be available for the match against Cape Verde on June 15. While the coach insists they are being careful, the club remains anxious about the physical demands of the tournament.
These players are making good progress in their recovery. I think they’ll all be available for the first match, but we’ll assess whether it’s worth them playing that game, not so much because of the risk involved, but because our focus goes beyond just the second or third match. Luis de la Fuente
Yamal suffered a biceps femoris injury on April 22 against Celta Vigo. Former Barcelona head of physiotherapy Juanjo Brau has warned of a significant risk of relapse for an explosive player whose game relies on sharp movements. Playing on June 15 would mark only 54 days since the injury, falling right at the earliest edge of the necessary recovery timeline.