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Barcelona are reportedly feeling a sense of dread over Lamine Yamal’s fitness as the teenage sensation prepares to lead Spain’s World Cup campaign. Despite the striker’s importance to the national team, Blaugrana officials are concerned that the recovery process for their crown jewel is being rushed to meet international deadlines.
Fear of a premature return
The Catalan giants are growing increasingly uneasy about Spain’s handling of Lamine Yamal’s recovery, with concerns mounting ahead of the national team’s opening match at the World Cup.
While Spain remain optimistic about his chances of being available, Barcelona believe caution should continue to be the priority for a player who is still developing physically.
The situation has intensified following recent comments from Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente about the fitness of several key players, suggesting the youngster is on the verge of a comeback.
De la Fuente’s optimistic update
Giving an update on his injured stars, De la Fuente indicated that Yamal is making good progress and could be available sooner than originally expected. The coach stated: “These players (Lamine, Mikel Merino, Nico Williams) are making good progress in their recovery. I think they will all be available for the first game, but we will assess whether it is worth them playing that game, not so much because of the risk involved, but because our focus goes beyond just the second or third game.”
Although the statement may sound positive from Spain’s perspective, it has created anxiety in the halls of the Camp Nou. It should be remembered that Yamal suffered a biceps femoris injury in his left leg during Barcelona’s win over Celta Vigo on April 22 and has not featured in a competitive match since that date.
Medical experts warn of relapse risk
The club’s caution is supported by medical evidence, with former Barcelona head of physiotherapy Juanjo Brau highlighting the dangers of an accelerated comeback.
Brau warned that in these processes, the return must be done by dosing the load, which often conflicts with the high-intensity demands of a World Cup tournament.
The expert further noted that there is a very real risk of relapse from the moment a player receives a medical discharge until a month and a half later. This window is particularly vulnerable for an explosive player like Yamal, whose game relies on sharp changes of pace and aggressive dribbling, which puts a huge strain on the hamstrings.
A race against the clock for Cape Verde
Spain are scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15. At that point, it would have been just 54 days since the injury, putting Yamal right at the earliest expected recovery window instead of the safer end of the eight-week timeline normally required for such muscle tears.
Yamal is yet to fully reintegrate into competitive football since his injury as he did not travel with Spain for the friendly against Peru and instead remained at the training base to continue following a personal recovery programme. For Barcelona, the risk of losing their star to a long-term injury outweighs any short-term gain for the national team’s opening game.
