Spain coach denies favoritism towards Yamal

Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente has denied claims that Barcelona's forward Lamine Yamal got special treatment after joining the national team later than his teammates.

The 19-year-old forward was not included in Spain's squad for Thursday’s Nations League match against the Czech Republic. He had some discomfort and swelling in his right knee after Barcelona's La Liga win over Atletico Madrid.

Yamal stayed in Barcelona to continue his recovery with the help of the club's medical team.

According to BBC Sport, De la Fuente said on Wednesday that the choice was made to prevent unnecessary travel and let Yamal get proper treatment.

"I decided that, to avoid the trip, it would be better for him to stay at home and continue treatment with his club," the coach explained.

De la Fuente pushed back against claims that Yamal was getting special treatment. He said they would have made the same decision for any player in a similar situation.

"Lamine Yamal doesn’t have any special privileges. We would have done this for any other player," he said.

The coach also shared his disappointment over reports suggesting the decision was based on Yamal's importance to the team.

"What hurts me most is the lying, the lack of rigour, the absence of truthfulness and the fabrication. I can’t stand people who try to deceive you and lie," he added.

This issue comes as more focus is on Yamal's heavy workload, as he plays a key role for both Barcelona and Spain.

So far this season, he has played 16 matches for Barcelona, scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists.

Last season, he appeared in 45 matches and has played 14 times for Spain in 2026.

De la Fuente is hopeful about Yamal's recovery, mentioning that the winger might join the national team again before Sunday’s match against England.

"The recovery is going well and we believe he will be with us on Friday," he said.

Yamal’s participation in the game against England will rely on how well he recovers from the knee issue.