Spain boss Luis de la Fuente 'surprised' by Hansi Flick's comments on Barcelona star Lamine Yamal - 'I thought he'd have more empathy'
Updated 03/10/2025 at 19:53 GMT+1
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has hit back at a remark made by Barcelona boss Hansi Flick over the inclusion of 18-year-old Lamine Yamal in the national squad, following an injury he picked up in the groin area. Yamal played twice for Spain in September - where he suffered the injury - and despite being recalled by Spain ahead of next week's internationals, he has since withdrawn.
Spain boss De la Fuente 'surprised' by Flick's Yamal remarks - 'Expected more empathy'
Video credit: SNTV
Luis de la Fuente has addressed comments made by Barcelona boss Hansi Flick over the inclusion of Lamine Yamal in the Spain squad.
The Barca starlet featured in wins over Bulgaria and Turkey last month - assisting twice against the latter - before aggravating a groin problem which left him out of action for three weeks.
He missed games against Valencia, Getafe and Real Oviedo - as well as a trip to Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League - before returning in time for a cameo against Real Sociedad and a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Europe.
Following his injury on international duty, Flick said that "it’s not taking care of players when they arrive with pain, don’t train, and then play more than 70 minutes."
Yamal was initially included in De la Fuente's squad for the upcoming October FIFA World Cup qualifiers, but has since pulled out of the squad and is expected to be sidelined "for two to three weeks," according to a Barca statement after he aggravated the same injury.
After naming his squad for next week's internationals, De la Fuente responded to Flick's remarks.
"There's no conflict with Hansi Flick at all," the Spain boss said.
"I was just surprised by his words because he's been a national team manager and I thought he'd have more empathy towards other national managers, that's all.
"This thing with Flick comes second, third, fourth or maybe fifth on my list. It's just a statement from a coach, that's all."
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Spain play two more World Cup qualifiers in the upcoming international break, and with the hope of having Yamal fit and available, it is clear where De la Fuente's priorities lie.
"The most important thing on my list is that we're playing against Georgia and Bulgaria. The World Cup is at stake. That's what's really important," he said.
"I want to take care only of the important things. And this [Flick's comments] isn't one of them. We said what we said, period."
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Asked whether De la Fuente really takes no risks with the players' injuries, considering Yamal, he added: "The risk in sports is always there. But is he playing in his club? Is he? Not now, but was he when he came here last time?
"So that's it. If he's playing in his club, it's because they're also assuming the level of risk that allegedly exists. Right? So there's that.
"If he's playing in his club, he's going to play here too. Just like he does in his club."
Yamal has made 23 appearances for Spain - all of which have come under De la Fuente - and has scored six goals, playing a pivotal role in the nation's UEFA European Championship success in 2024.
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