OVIEDO, SPAIN - OCTOBER 03: Lamine Yamal of Spain looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Czechia at Carlos Tartiere on October 03, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Ibai Tudanca/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Gill Clark Gill Clark is the site manager of Barca Blaugranes and joined in 2017. She has worked in sports media as a writer and editor for the best part of two decades and has been in love with the beautiful game for as long as she can remember.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente says that Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is scheduled to link up with the team on Friday ahead of their Nations League fixture against England.
Yamal will miss Thursday’s match with Czechia due to a knee issue but will then join up with the world champions for the second fixture of the international break.
De la Fuente was quizzed on the teenager’s absence at a press conference and denied accusations that Yamal was receiving preferential treatment.
“Speaking from a place of ignorance is sad, regrettable. That’s why I’m here to shed some light. Lamine has inflammation in his knee. Our medical staff examined him, and we decided to avoid this trip, I preferred he stay home training with the club. And the same goes for Mikel Oyarzabal,” he said.
“I spoke with him yesterday and today. The same with Mikel. His progress is good. His recovery is going well, and we believe he’ll be back with us on Friday.”
“I’m not worried. I’m here to clear things up. He doesn’t have any special privileges. We would have done the same with anyone. It doesn’t bother anyone. We miss everyone who isn’t with us. That’s football, injuries.”