Spain manager Luis de la Fuente lashed out at critics on Wednesday dismissing claims that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal requested to miss the upcoming Nations League fixture against Czechia or receives preferential treatment within the national squad.
- Roster Availability: Yamal remains on track to rejoin the squad on Friday, maintaining his expected deployment for the weekend clash against England.
- Depth Chart Shift: Liverpool winger Víctor Muñoz received an emergency call-up to cover attacking absences, altering immediate squad rotation values.
The controversy surrounds Yamal’s absence from the squad traveling to Prague for the November 12 fixture, as reported by gong.bg. De la Fuente addressed the press by explaining that routine medical evaluations revealed fluid and inflammation in the player’s right knee.
“Let those who think what you say understand this: Lamine was injured and had pain in one knee,” De la Fuente told sportal.bg. “When passing the routine procedures, they discovered fluid and inflammation in the knee. This meant he needed rest.”
The technical staff from both the Spanish federation and Barcelona coordinated the decision to keep the 19-year-old at his club for initial recovery. Dsport.bg said that Yamal could technically have featured if the match carried an absolute do-or-die weight, but team doctors avoided any unnecessary fitness gamble following his recent workload.
,fit(968:545) "Photo: Sportal.bg")
| Player | Club | Status for Czechia | Status for England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Out (Knee Inflammation) | Expected Return |
| Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | Out (Flu Recovery) | Doubtful / Assessing |
| Víctor Muñoz | Liverpool | Called Up (Emergency) | Available |
webcafe reported that the national team coach reacted with intense frustration toward external speculation regarding special treatment for high-profile players. De la Fuente rejected the narrative that the teenage sensation dictated his own participation terms.
“People share all sorts of things with me, and what hurts me the most is the lie, the lack of truth, and the fabrication,” De la Fuente told gong.bg. “When I am faced with such a thing, I try to expose it. That is why I am revealing more things than necessary.”
The manager maintained that the squad rules apply equally to every player regardless of commercial value or club stature. Focus-news.net highlighted that alongside Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal is also sidelined due to a bout of flu, prompting emergency roster adjustments.
Focus-news.net confirmed that Liverpool winger Víctor Muñoz joined the squad on November 11 evening following his club output of two goals and one assist across 12 appearances this term.
Jorge de Frutos also secured a late call-up as a replacement for the injured Ander Barrenechea. Despite these minor squad disruptions, Spain sits comfortably atop Group A3 in the Nations League with 12 points after four matches, having already secured qualification for the tournament’s quarterfinals.
De la Fuente also touched on internal squad competition, pointing out the ambitions of midfielder Mikel Merino. “All players want to play,” the coach told sportal.bg, adding that substitutes consistently contribute heavily to the team’s offensive output.
Yamal is expected to arrive in the national team camp on Friday following his individual recovery sessions, positioning him to undergo final fitness assessments ahead of the Sunday match against England.
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