De la Fuente defends Yamal's delayed Spain arrival for knee treatment

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has defended the decision to let Lamine Yamal remain at Barcelona for treatment rather than immediately join the national squad, rejecting suggestions that the winger received preferential treatment. BBC Sport reported on November 12 that the coach said the same arrangement would have been available to any player in comparable circumstances.

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Yamal, 19, experienced discomfort and inflammation in his right knee after Barcelona's La Liga win over Atletico Madrid. He stayed with his club's medical staff and did not travel with Spain for Thursday's Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic. De la Fuente said on Wednesday that he had decided avoiding the journey and allowing treatment to continue at the club was the better course.

The explanation followed reports in Spanish media questioning why Yamal had not been required to report for international duty alongside the rest of the squad. De la Fuente strongly disputed that account of the decision. According to BBC Sport's reporting, he accused those presenting it as preferential treatment of fabricating information, while insisting the arrangement reflected how Spain would handle another player in the same position.

The coach also gave an encouraging but conditional update on Yamal's recovery. He said treatment was progressing well and that Spain believed the forward would join the group on Friday. That expectation put a possible reunion ahead of Sunday's match against England, scheduled for 19:45 GMT. His comments did not amount to confirmation that Yamal would be fit to play in that game.

The situation comes with Yamal carrying a substantial workload for club and country. BBC Sport reported that he had made 16 Barcelona appearances this season, scoring 13 goals and supplying 12 assists. He played 45 club matches last season and had also appeared 14 times for Spain during 2026, despite still being a teenager.

Yamal was not the only Spain player expected to arrive later than his team-mates. Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal was also due to join the squad late while recovering from flu and following the birth of his second child, BBC Sport reported.