For the second time in as many months, tension between Barcelona and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has reached boiling point — and once again, it all centers on Lamine Yamal and the management of his persistent groin injury.
Back in September, Barça coach Hansi Flick accused Spain and national boss Luis de la Fuente of mishandling the teenager’s workload during World Cup qualifiers, warning that the 18-year-old was being pushed beyond his limits. Now, the roles are reversed: Spain have been left frustrated and “surprised” after losing Yamal ahead of crucial qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey.
Yamal played a full 90 minutes and scored in Barça’s 4-2 win over Celta Vigo last Sunday before joining Spain’s camp in Madrid the following day. But by Tuesday, he had been sent home after Barça’s medical staff reported he needed up to 10 days of rest following a radiofrequency procedure to treat his ongoing groin issue.
The RFEF was furious at being informed so late — only after Yamal had already arrived at Spain’s base. “I’ve never experienced a situation like this before,” De la Fuente said. “It’s not normal. He didn’t even know what had been done or what his recovery process would be.”
Barça, however, insist that communication with Spain had been “constant,” with club president Joan Laporta defending the decision and insisting Yamal’s treatment coinciding with Spain’s fixtures was purely coincidental.
The incident highlights a broader pattern of club-vs-country tension. Both sides claim there’s no “conflict,” but communication has repeatedly broken down. Flick and De la Fuente have publicly clashed before, with neither taking steps to mend the relationship.
Yamal’s condition — a sports hernia caused by overuse rather than impact — is tricky to manage. While rest helps, recovery depends on strengthening the surrounding muscles and controlled workload. Barça have brought in groin injury specialist Ernest Schilders, who advised against surgery for now. Still, the risk remains that the issue could become chronic if not carefully handled.
Barça are cautious. They’ve seen too many young stars — Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati — suffer long-term setbacks from being overplayed. A recent FIFPRO report revealed that Yamal had already logged over 8,000 minutes before turning 18, far more than any other player at his age.
Both club and country know the stakes: mishandling Lamine Yamal could jeopardize not only his future, but also Spain’s hopes at the 2026 World Cup.
