Spain Sends Lamine Yamal Home After Surprise Injury Treatment

Lamine Yamal will not play for Spain in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 18-year-old Barcelona winger was released from the national team camp on Tuesday after getting medical treatment on a groin injury. The situation caused confusion and frustration inside the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

Lamine Yamal has already missed five games for Barcelona because of this injury. On Monday, just as Spain’s training camp began, he had a radiofrequency treatment to help the issue. However, according to the RFEF, Spain’s doctors were never told about the procedure ahead of time. They only received a report late Monday night saying that the player needed to rest for 7 to 10 days.

“This procedure was done without notifying the national team’s medical staff,” the RFEF said in a statement. “Because of this and to protect the player’s health and well-being, the federation has decided to release him from the squad.”

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said he had never seen a situation like this before. He admitted he was surprised when he learned about the treatment.

“These things happened outside the federation, and we had no information,” De la Fuente told Spanish radio network RNE. “It’s not normal. Of course I was surprised, just like everyone else, because we didn’t know anything until after it was done.”

Even at his young age, Lamine Yamal has already become a key player for both Barcelona and Spain. He has 23 international appearances and has been one of Barcelona’s top performers this season, scoring six goals and providing six assists in 11 matches.

Spain is currently leading Group E with 12 points from four games. They have scored 15 goals and have not allowed a single goal so far. The team will play Georgia on Saturday in Tbilisi and then return home to face Turkey on Tuesday in Seville.

Spain can qualify for the World Cup this week if they beat Georgia and Turkey fails to beat Bulgaria. They can also qualify if they draw and Turkey loses. The team remains confident, even without Lamine Yamal on the field.

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