Luis de la Fuente has hit out at what he described as “lies” over claims that Lamine Yamal has been given preferential treatment, with Spain’s build-up to England in Madrid overshadowed by a row that refused to go away. The Spain head coach was keen to make clear that the teenager’s involvement was managed in the same way as the rest of the squad, not in a special category of its own.
The debate had already become a distraction by the time Spain trained at Las Rozas on Friday evening. Spain had landed back in Madrid’s Barajas airport at 1.45pm after a 2-0 win over Czechia in Prague, while Yamal arrived from Barcelona around the same time before joining the group later that day. Spain were due to meet England on Sunday night at the Metropolitano, but the discussion around Yamal’s workload quickly became part of the build-up.
De la Fuente: “I’ve got good news”
De la Fuente pushed back strongly when asked about the claims. “I’ve got good news,” he said, before stressing that “Lamine is in perfect condition and really looking forward to it and Mikel has just become a father; he will appreciate the chance to sleep.”
It was a pointed answer, and one designed to shift the focus back onto preparation rather than suspicion. The Spain coach clearly wanted to underline that there was no hidden agenda in how the squad was being managed.
Why the row matters
The issue stems from the last four-game international break, when Yamal was the only player to go beyond the 270-minute limit set by de la Fuente. That detail has now fed a broader argument about whether Spain are handling one of their most valuable young players with the right balance of caution and ambition.
For de la Fuente, though, the noise around that decision appears to be as much about perception as selection. He responded by saying: “The saddest, most lamentable thing there is in life is to speak without knowledge,” a line that made clear how frustrated he was with the criticism.
Spain’s focus must return to England
Spain are world and European champions, and the next task is a significant one. They were preparing to face England, the side they defeated in Berlin at the end of Euro 2024, and that alone would have been enough to command attention without the added distraction of a public dispute over player management.
There is also a wider context here, with previous tension between Barcelona and the federation over Yamal’s treatment and demands. That history helps explain why the story gained traction so quickly.
De la Fuente has made his position plain, and Spain will hope that is enough to move the conversation on. But if Yamal plays a major role again, and Spain continue their winning rhythm, the debate over whether he is being overprotected or underprotected is unlikely to disappear any time soon.
