Injured Yamal out of Spain’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers, could miss Clasico

Lamine Yamal has a recurring groin injury that prevented him from playing for Spain against Georgia and Bulgaria this month.

The 18-year-old winger is expected to miss three weeks after the problem resurfaced following Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the La Liga club announced in a statement on Friday.

Following the game against PSG, Lamine Yamal’s groin issue has returned. The player will miss [Sunday’s] game against Sevilla, according to Barcelona, and his recovery time is thought to be between two and three weeks.

Yamal, who had just returned from a three-week layoff to help Barcelona beat Real Sociedad last weekend, played the full 90 minutes against PSG, in a particularly cruel situation.

After missing four games while recovering from a groin injury, Yamal made his first start in that game since August. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick criticized him, who claimed it had been worsened by playing in the World Cup qualifiers in September.

After criticizing the national team’s handling of the teenager, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente earlier on Friday stated that he had no issues with Flick.

“Flick and I don’t have a conflict. Because he has been a national team coach, de la Fuente said after announcing his squad for the upcoming qualifiers, “I was simply surprised by those statements.”

You are aware that our two crucial matches, which are World Cup matches, are important. They appear to be playing in the background and discussing Flick.

The fact that we are competing in the World Cup is what really matters. The rest is unimportant. Everyone made up their minds, and that is it.

Flick claimed that he and de la Fuente had only exchanged a brief text message at the time, but their communication could have been improved.

De la Fuente tried to draw a line under the situation in an effort to make it clearer.

He complained that he felt uncomfortable when the game came to an end. But I’ve never felt pain while playing. He claimed that nothing had happened.

Both our medical staff and I have explained it. Nothing more. After the game, did he experience any discomfort? I’m not sure, I suppose.

Yamal’s future is uncertain due to his most recent injury, which also leaves him unsure of his ability to play against Real Madrid on October 26.

Next week, Spain will also be without Nico Williams and Dani Carvajal, and Alvaro Morata will not be included in the squad due to Como’s slow start to the season.

Williams, an athletic Bilbao winger, hasn’t played since picking up a groin injury in the 6-0 win over Turkiye. His team reportedly requested that his playing time be managed because he was sore.

“Sports and football always have a risk.” He assumes those risks if he plays for his club. De la Fuente said, “We are talking about completely normal situations.”