Barcelona receive reassurances from Spain NT over key superstar’s workload

Cornellà de Llobregat – FC Barcelona have secured the commitment of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to handle Lamine Yamal with care during the current international window, easing mounting anxiety at the club over the 17-year-old’s workload after Raphinha’s recent injury setback.

The Catalans arrived at the November break already without their Brazilian winger, who was hurt on Seleção duty, and are wary of losing another cornerstone with La Liga and Champions League ambitions on a knife-edge. Yamal, who has stepped into a leading role in Raphinha’s absence, featured for 63 minutes in Spain’s 3-0 friendly win over Serbia last week, raising questions about how much more game time he would be given in Tuesday’s closing fixture against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium.

Barcelona’s concern intensified when the teenager began the camp training apart from the main group, pedalling on a stationary bike to manage the load on a body that only recently overcame a pubic issue. Yet subsequent checks have shown no reaction, and Yamal has since trained normally with the national squad.

Sporting director Deco has maintained daily contact with Aitor Karanka, the RFEF’s technical and development director, and the dialogue is described by both parties as positive and fluid. Sources inside the federation stress that head coach Luis de la Fuente’s priority is “the welfare of the players,” a message that has been relayed explicitly to the Camp Nou offices.

The proximity of the Egypt match – played barely five kilometres from Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva – removes the strain of long-haul travel, while De la Fuente intends to rotate his starting XI and distribute minutes as part of broader World Cup preparation. Although Yamal’s competitive instinct pushes him to start every match, Spain’s staff have pledged to balance development with preservation, mindful that the club season is entering a decisive phase.

With Raphinha sidelined, Barcelona view any additional absence as potentially title-altering; the RFEF’s reassurances therefore arrive as a welcome relief ahead of the final whistle on the international calendar.