Flick warns Spain: Lamine Yamal “not ready to play”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has cautioned Spain’s national team over the fitness of teenage forward Lamine Yamal, insisting the 18-year-old is “not ready to play” after suffering a recurrence of his groin injury.
Yamal was called up to Spain’s squad for their upcoming fixtures against Georgia and Bulgaria, but he later withdrew due to discomfort in the same area that sidelined him last month.
Flick gives update on Yamal’s condition
Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Sevilla, Flick explained that Yamal had felt fit enough to face Paris Saint-Germain in midweek but remains far from full recovery.
“He felt good, otherwise he wouldn’t have played against PSG. Today he’s better but not well,” Flick told reporters.
“Everyone knows his quality, but it’s my responsibility to manage his minutes properly. If players are not 100%, they can only rely on their strengths, and we must manage that carefully.”
The German manager added that Yamal’s return date remains uncertain, casting doubt on his availability for the first El Clasico of the season.
“We don’t know if he will be back in two, three, or four weeks,” Flick said. “It’s not a simple injury; it’s not muscular. We’ll see how he progresses.”
Bernal call-up also draws Flick’s frustration
Flick also criticised Spain’s handling of 19-year-old Marc Bernal’s situation after the midfielder was called up to the U21 squad despite limited game time following a serious ACL injury.
“He is not ready to play many minutes. He’s coming off a year-long injury and isn’t yet at his best physical level,” Flick said. “The Federation should be careful and take care of him too.”
The Barcelona boss has been gradually easing Bernal back into action and fears that excessive playing time with the national setup could risk another setback.
