LaLiga
Lamine Yamal Injury Feud: Spanish FA Chief Says ‘There Was No Tension’ As Flick And De La Fuente Bury The Hatchet
The president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzan, has cleared the air on the alleged feud between Barcelona boss Hansi Flick and Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente over the handling of teenage superstar Lamine Yamal’s injury, insisting there was “no tension.”
Yamal’s Call-Up Sparks Concerns
Despite suffering from pubalgia, a chronic groin injury, Yamal has featured heavily for Barcelona in recent weeks — playing full matches against Real Madrid, Elche, Club Brugge, and Celta Vigo.
His continued involvement led Spain’s head coach De la Fuente to include him in the squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey, a decision that sparked debate given the youngster’s physical condition.
De la Fuente, however, defended his call-up:
“I watched his last game and believe he’s in perfect condition. His coach said he was ready to play. We have two huge games to qualify for the World Cup, and we need our best players.”
The History Of The Feud
The tension between both managers dates back to the September international break, when Yamal returned injured from national team duty. Flick accused the Spanish camp of neglecting player welfare:
“They gave him painkillers to play when he was already in pain. That’s not taking care of the player,” Flick said.
De la Fuente dismissed the remarks at the time, saying he was “not interested” in the criticism. The RFEF also claimed Barcelona had failed to properly communicate Yamal’s injury status before the call-up.
By October, Flick softened his stance, saying:
“I just wanted to protect my player. I don’t regret speaking up, but it’s time we manage these things together — clubs, players, and the federation.”
Louzan Clears The Air
Speaking to Movistar+, Louzan confirmed that communication between the RFEF and clubs remains strong:
“We have acted in a coordinated manner and will always do so because the clubs’ interests come first. There is no controversy — there was no tension.”
He added that the federation maintains constant communication with all clubs to ensure players’ wellbeing:
“We take great care of every player. Luis de la Fuente has a great relationship with all managers, including Flick. What happened was just a minor disagreement, nothing more.”
With Yamal now fit and ready for Spain’s crucial World Cup qualifiers, it seems both camps have agreed to move forward — united by the goal of keeping one of football’s brightest young talents healthy and firing on all cylinders.
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