Spanish FA Releases Lamine Yamal Following Uninformed Medical Procedure
The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) has expressed its "surprise and concern" after releasing Lamine Yamal from the national squad due to a groin procedure that the federation claims it was unaware of.
The 18-year-old Barcelona winger was selected to participate in World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey on November 15 and 18, respectively.
According to the RFEF, the organization was not informed about Yamal's medical procedure on Monday, which coincided with the beginning of the national team's training camp.
Yamal had recently scored during Barcelona's 4-2 La Liga victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday before being substituted in stoppage time.
A statement from the RFEF read: "The medical services of the Royal Spanish Football Federation wish to express their surprise and concern upon learning, at 13:47 on Monday, November 10—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 that evening, which recommended 7–10 days of rest for the player."
In light of this situation, prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of the player, the RFEF has decided to release Yamal from the current squad.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick previously criticized Spain for including Yamal in qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey in September, which led to him missing four Barcelona matches due to a groin injury. He also missed Spain's fixtures against Georgia and Bulgaria in October after aggravating the injury.
Despite these challenges, Yamal has played in Barcelona's last six matches, scoring four goals. In his absence, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has called up Jorge de Frutos from Rayo Vallecano to replace Yamal.
Currently, the Euro 2024 champions are leading Group E, three points ahead of Turkey with two games remaining.