Controversy in Spain: "He receives no special privileges", Lamine Yamal accused of faking injury to skip Nations League match

Yamal sidelined with knee fluid and inflammation; former Spain manager De La Fuente denies accusations of special treatment ahead of Czech Republic match.

Lamine Yamal has been ruled out of Spain's Nations League fixture against Czech Republic on Thursday (20:45) due to knee discomfort, with medical examination revealing fluid and inflammation. Manager Luis De La Fuente defended the decision in an angry press conference, dismissing speculation that the Barcelona star was avoiding the Prague trip to rest before Sunday's England match in Madrid.

De La Fuente stated that Yamal's medical team and his own staff agreed rest was the best course of action, and that the player would rejoin the squad Friday. "He receives no special privileges," the manager said. "We would have done the same with anyone."

He criticized media coverage for lacking rigour and truth, emphasizing that Yamal consulted his personal doctor who confirmed the inflammation required recovery time.

The controversy has dominated Spanish sports media, with some commentators arguing that elite players like Yamal deserve careful management, comparing the situation to how France handles Mbappé, Argentina with Messi, and Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo. Spain has already qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals.