November 12 – The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) has expressed “surprise and concern” after FC Barcelona blindsided the national team with news of Lamine Yamal’s groin procedure that led to the player’s release from the squad.
The Barcelona star was part of Spain’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey on November 15 and 18 respectively, but he underwent what the Spanish football federation called “an invasive radiofrequency procedure” on Monday. It requires a seven to ten-day recovery period. The Spanish FA said Yamal’s club did not inform them of the procedure.
“I had never experienced a situation like that. I don’t think it’s very normal,” said Spain manager Luis de la Fuente. “You don’t know, you haven’t heard anything, you don’t know any details, and then they tell you about health issues. You’re left surprised.”
In the previous week, the Ballon d’Or runner-up featured three times for Barcelona, completing the 90 minutes almost entirely against Celta Vigo, Elche and Club Brugge. The player had, however, been struggling with a groin problem in recent months. On Saturday, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said: “We have to take care of [Yamal]. I think he comes back to the best level, but it’s not over, so it’s not done, this injury. We have to take care of him, not just us, also the national team.”
In a statement, the RFEF wrote: “The medical services of the Royal Spanish Football Federation wish to express their surprise and concern upon learning, at 13:47 on Monday 10 November – the day the national team’s official training camp began – that Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure earlier that same morning to treat discomfort in his pubic area.
“This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the national team’s medical staff, who only became aware of the details through a report received at 22:40 last night, in which a medical recommendation of 7–10 days of rest was indicated.”
The Spanish FA added that, given the circumstances, they released the player. De la Fuente has called up Rayo Vallecano’s Jorge de Frutos to replace Yamal. The Barcelona star came of age with Spain at Euro 2024 when La Roja won the tournament, defeating England in the final.
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