Barcelona's 18-year-old winger, Lamine Yamal, has been ruled out for "two to three weeks" after aggravating a groin injury, which will keep him sidelined for Spain's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria. Yamal's absence marks the latest development in an ongoing saga involving his management between club and country.
Yamal, who has been a bright spot for Barcelona this season with two goals and four assists in five appearances, initially suffered the groin injury during international duty in September. After missing four games, he returned to action on Sunday, coming off the bench to assist Barcelona in a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad. However, the injury resurfaced following Barcelona's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Barcelona's medical team confirmed the setback, stating: "The groin problem for Lamine Yamal has returned following the game against PSG. The player will miss [Sunday's] game against Sevilla, and his recovery time is estimated at 2-3 weeks."
This latest injury has reignited a debate between Barcelona and the Spanish national team over the care of young players. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed frustration after Yamal's initial injury, suggesting that Spain's national team should take better care of its young talent. "Spain has the best team in the world, the best players in the world," Flick said. "So, maybe they will also want to take care of our players, our young players, but it's like they are doing this [to them]."
In response to Flick's comments, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente denied any conflict between the club and the national team. De la Fuente, however, expressed surprise at Flick's remarks, noting, "I was surprised by the German manager's comments, given that [Flick] is a manager who has also coached a national team, and I thought he would have had more empathy."
Yamal's injury comes at a critical time for both Barcelona and Spain. For Barcelona, the loss of a key player in their Champions League campaign could impact their performance against Sevilla and beyond. For Spain, Yamal's absence could affect their preparations for the World Cup qualifiers, where they aim to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament.
As the debate over player management continues, both Barcelona and Spain will need to find a balance to ensure the well-being of their young stars like Yamal. The situation highlights the delicate relationship between clubs and national teams, particularly when it comes to the management of promising young players.
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*Published: 16 August*
*Source: [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx274d7zje9o)*
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