In a surprising twist, tensions have surfaced between Spanish football authorities and Barcelona over the handling of young talent Lamine Yamal’s recent medical procedure. Reports suggest that the Spanish football federation is miffed at Barcelona for not informing them about Yamal’s radiofrequency treatment for his ongoing groin issue.

It appears neither Yamal nor Barcelona communicated with Spain’s medical team about the procedure. This revelation came as a shock to the national team, which had planned to include the 18-year-old sensation in their lineup for the upcoming matches against Georgia and Turkey. However, just three days after his call-up, Spain released him after learning about the treatment.

Yamal had been sidelined from Spain’s squad for the October World Cup qualifiers but was anticipated to make a comeback, given his participation in Barcelona’s last five games across all competitions. The lack of transparency from Barcelona has led to frustration among Spain’s coaching staff.

Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, expressed his dissatisfaction with Barcelona’s communication, highlighting that the national team was only informed of Yamal’s procedure late in the evening, at 10:40 p.m., long after the player was supposed to report for national duty. This situation underscores the ongoing communication challenges between club and country in the world of international football.

Manager Luis de la Fuente had criticised Barcelona’s lack of communication over the procedure, amid reports the national team set-up were only informed of the procedure at 10:40pm, hours after he was supposed to report for duty.

Spanish football chiefs reportedly considered keeping Lamine Yamal in the squad amid anger at him undergoing a secret procedure, before Luis de la Fuente decided to release him

Yamal underwent radiofrequency treatment on his persistent groin injury, with the procedure ultimately leading to the Spanish FA having to release him from their latest squad

‘It doesn’t seem very normal to me,’ he said in an interview with RNE.  ‘I’ve never experienced a similar situation. These are procedures that happen outside the national team’s control; it’s what happens, and we have to accept it. 

‘I was surprised like everyone else; you don’t have any news or know any details, they tell you, and in health matters, one is left surprised.’

His comments followed a damning statement from the RFEF on Tuesday morning, who labelled the operation as ‘invasive’ and expressed their ‘surprise’ at him needing it in the first place.

‘The Medical Services of the RFEF wish to express their surprise and discomfort after learning at 13:47 on Monday, November 10, the day of the start of the official training camp with the national team, that player Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure for the treatment of his pubic discomfort that same morning,’ their statement read.

‘This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the medical staff of the National Team, with knowledge of the details only through a report received at 22:40 last night, which indicated the medical recommendation of rest for 7-10 days.

‘Given this situation, and prioritising at all times the health, safety and well-being of the player, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has made the decision to release the athlete from the current call-up.

‘We are confident that he will recover well and wish him a speedy and full recovery.’

The statements heightened a growing club vs country row, after Barcelona boss Hansi Flick took aim at the RFEF over their handling of Yamal during their World Cup qualifiers in September as he managed his injury.

Luis de la Fuente, right, has reportedly expressed a desire to talk to Barcelona boss Hansi Flick after the international window

Flick had previously criticised how the Spanish FA had handled Yamal amid his injury problems 

‘Lamine goes to the national team with pain, didn’t train and had painkillers to play,’ Flick said. ‘They were three goals up in every match and he played 79 and 73 minutes.

‘Between the matches, he didn’t train. This is not taking care of players. Spain have the best team in the world and in every position they are unbelievably good. So I am really sad about this.’    

According to the Barcelona based Mundo Deportivo, national team staff had reportedly felt ‘betrayed’ by the club.

It is claimed medical staff had recommended to De la Fuente that he should keep Yamal in the squad amid their anger at Barcelona, while suggesting the winger could have been available to face Turkey next week.

De la Fuente was said to have immediately dismissed the suggestion and confirmed Yamal’s release, with efforts now underway to reduce tensions between the RFEF and Barcelona. 

De la Fuente and RFEF sporting director Aitor Karanka had reportedly met to discuss the situation, along with the national team press officer.

According to the report, Karanka held talks with Barcelona counterpart Deco on Monday and Tuesday to address the situation, while De la Fuente had spoken to Yamal before allowing him to return to the club to continue his recuperation.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed the club informed Spain immediately after discovering Yamal’s recovery period from the procedure

De la Fuente has also reportedly expressed a desire to speak with Barcelona boss Flick following the international window.

Statements were also issued by RFEF president Rafael Louzan and his Barcelona counterpart Joan Laporta in a bid to reduce tensions.

‘The first thing is that we have to take care of the player. Sometimes there are circumstances that can perhaps be handled better, but the important thing is to take care of the player,’ Louzan said.

‘He is a club and national team player, and it is very important for both entities that he recovers as soon as possible,” he said.

‘These are things that can be handled differently, but they are unforeseen circumstances and we must act, but we are not going to stir up any controversy.

‘He is a great player, the important thing is that he recovers and that we can have him back with the club and the national team as soon as possible.’

Laporta, speaking to Catalunya Radio, insisted Barcelona had ‘respect’ for the national team and suggested Yamal’s absence would not harm the national team, who are on the brink of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup.

‘We informed them as soon as we knew, when the doctor treating him told us he needed ten days of rest, we immediately notified the national team.

‘We respect everyone involved and don’t get involved in controversies. We aim to manage our players’ recovery at the pace that suits us.

Yamal was called up for games against Georgia and Turkey but has gone back to his club 

‘On Monday, the doctor arrived, examined him, and laid out the treatment plan. Everything went smoothly.

‘We want Lamine available for the club, this rest period coincided with the call-up, but I don’t think it harms the national team’s standing, as they’re in a great position. We’re doing what we have to do in Barca’s best interests.’

According to Spanish publication Sport, Yamal is suffering from the condition Pubalgia, with club bosses reportedly fearing the pain is chronic and incurable. 

Pubalgia is a condition that causes muscles to converge in the groin area causing pain and discomfort rather than a strain or pull to the muscle, the usual injury suffered by footballers in that area of the body. 

Occasionally it is referred to as sports hernia and is caused by an imbalance in the muscles in the groin and abdomen. 

Physical therapy and rest are usually the treatments used to ease the issue but evidently Yamal has gone a step further with the ‘invasive’ approach to ease his discomfort. 

Pubalgia is often suffered by young players still growing into their bodies and Yamal has already played an unusual amount of senior football for his age. 

He burst onto the scene at 15 and has already won two LaLiga titles, a domestic cup and the Spanish Super Cup as well as Euro 2024.

Yamal is reportedly suffering from the condition Pubalgia, often referred to as a sport’s hernia

Yamal has already played 117 matches for Barcelona’s first team in his career, along with earning 23 caps for the national team. 

An ex-Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, is another who suffered with the same groin issue and offers hope for Yamal, his club and country that the problem is treatable and will ease in time.  

Speaking to Buenos Aires radio station club94.7 six years ago, Messi said: ‘Pubalgia is complicated.

‘I suffer from it for a while now, I do little training and I can not play all the games.

‘It is not a problem that can be solved overnight. I feel better now, but I still have not recovered and I still need treatment.’