The Spanish Football Federation has criticized Barcelona for proceeding with surgery on the 18-year-old winger without notifying the national team’s medical staff beforehand.
Lamine Yamal, who missed Spain’s last two matches due to a groin injury, will also be unavailable for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The young Barcelona winger underwent radiofrequency surgery on Monday to fully heal the problem, which had already kept him out of five club matches.
As a result, Yamal has been left out of Spain’s squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey, the federation (RFEF) confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
However, the RFEF expressed its frustration that the surgery was done without the national team being informed in advance.
“The operation was carried out without prior notice to the national team’s medical staff. They only became aware of it at 10:40 p.m. last night through a report stating that Yamal would need seven to ten days of rest,” the statement read.
Yamal has already made 23 appearances for Spain’s senior team. This season, he has been in fine form for Barcelona, scoring six goals and providing six assists in 11 matches.
Spain currently sit at the top of Group E with 12 points from four matches, scoring 15 goals without conceding any.
They will face Georgia on Saturday at 11 p.m. Bangladesh time, followed by a home match against Turkey next Tuesday.
In the European qualifiers, group winners will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while runners-up will compete in the play-offs.
