Spain’s national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, has dismissed suggestions of a conflict with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick over the handling of young star Lamine Yamal.
The disagreement began last month when Flick criticized the Spanish team for playing Yamal during World Cup qualifiers, suggesting it worsened the 18-year-old’s groin injury. Yamal has since returned to action for Barcelona.
Addressing the issue while announcing his squad for upcoming matches, De la Fuente stated, “There is no conflict with Flick.” He expressed surprise at the German coach’s comments, noting that Flick, a former national team coach himself, should have “empathy” for the situation.
De la Fuente clarified that Yamal only had minor “discomfort” after the international match, which is normal for players. He emphasized that the focus should be on Spain’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria.
The squad announcement also revealed that Nico Williams and Dani Carvajal will miss the matches due to injury, while Álvaro Morata was left out due to poor club form.
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