Real Madrid defender Dean Howeson has defended Lamin Yamal’s departure from the Spain camp ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey this week.
Yamal, 18, joined the Spain national team earlier this week but returned to Barcelona on Tuesday after undergoing a procedure on Monday that required up to 10 days of rest.
It was the latest development in the ongoing saga between Spain and Barcelona as Yamal attempts to recover from an ongoing thigh injury that has hampered him since September.
“He is having some problems and it is normal for him to return home,” Huysen told Marca. “I also left the camp last month when I felt some pain.”
While the focus has mainly been on the row between Spain and Barcelona – with La Roja coach Luis de la Fuente angry that he was not informed that Yamal would undergo the procedure in advance – the teenager’s commitment to his national team has also been in doubt.
“Lamine is a normal kid,” Huysen added. “He’s only 18. Sometimes things get too much with him.
“The same thing happens in Madrid with Vinicius, he is a great player and a good man, but they criticize him for the smallest things. If we deserve it, we can accept it, but often it goes beyond the limits.”
De la Fuente was also keen to stress that Barcelona had handled the situation poorly, calling for better communication, and saying that Yamal was not aware of what the action entailed or its consequences. Sources at the Catalan club claim that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been kept informed of the matter.
His Barcelona and Spain teammate Dani Olmo said Yamal’s willingness to represent his country should not be questioned.
“Lamine always wants to be here with the national team,” Launda Ciro said. “If he is not able to be here this time, it is because he is not 100%.
“His desire to be here has been questioned, but behind closed doors you can see that it is quite the opposite,” he added.
The issue has been ongoing since September, when Barcelona coach Hansi Flick accused De La Fuente of failing to look after Spain’s young players after Yamal returned to his club due to a pubic problem.
After that, Yamal missed four matches with Barcelona, returned for two matches and then missed three more matches – one for his club and two for Spain.
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Since then, he has made six consecutive appearances for Barcelona, scoring four goals and making three assists, which led to him being called up to the Spain national team last Friday.
“There is no problem, everyone wants him to be 100%,” Olmo added of the ongoing dispute between Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation. “Lamine is also used to people talking about him.”
A minimum of four points for Spain will guarantee their place in next summer’s World Cup finals this week, although depending on other results, they may also qualify with fewer points.
