Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, has found himself at the centre of a storm once again. The 18-year-old winger was originally called up to represent Spain in their upcoming matches against Georgia and Turkey. However, in a surprising twist, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has decided to exclude him from the squad at the last minute. The reason? Barcelona allegedly conducted an ‘invasive radiofrequency treatment’ on Yamal without informing the federation.
The controversy began on Monday morning, when Barcelona’s medical team used this treatment on Yamal to address a pubic injury he had sustained. However, the Spanish football federation’s medical team was only informed about the treatment later that evening, at 10:40 PM, through a written report. The report stated that Yamal would need to rest for at least 7-10 days, making him unavailable for the upcoming international fixtures.
As a result, despite being initially called up, Spain’s medical department decided to remove Yamal from the squad. In a statement, the RFEF emphasised that player health and safety were the top priorities in making this decision. “We were surprised and uncomfortable to learn of such an invasive procedure being carried out without prior notification,” the statement read.
This incident has sparked significant frustration within the Spanish federation. While the statement did not explicitly name Barcelona, it was clear that the criticism was directed at the club. The relationship between Spain’s national team and Barcelona, already strained in recent months, has now reached a new low.
In September, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández had publicly claimed that national team manager Luis de la Fuente was not protecting Yamal properly, setting the stage for further tensions. Now, yet again, Yamal has become the centre of a fresh dispute, this time over medical treatment.
Several sources within Spain’s national team have expressed confusion over why Barcelona chose to administer this treatment when it was clear that Yamal would be unable to play for a few days. This decision, coupled with Barcelona’s lack of communication, has led many to believe that the relationship between the RFEF and Barcelona is on the verge of collapse.
Yamal, at just 18, is considered one of Spain’s brightest prospects. He had impressed with stellar performances for Barcelona just days ago, and his inclusion in the World Cup qualifiers was highly anticipated. Now, however, he finds himself on the sidelines, and Barcelona’s controversial decision has only intensified the tension between the club and the Spanish federation.