Lamine Yamal fit for England clash, says Spain boss Luis de la Fuente

Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal is in excellent condition and available to play for Spain against England in the Nations League on Sunday.

Spain host England in the sixth and final round of Group C at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Yamal having returned to the national squad after remaining with his club during the international break.

Asked about the Barcelona forward’s fitness, de la Fuente said: “Lamine is in great condition. If we could go back in time, we would do exactly the same thing, because it was very beneficial for him.”

The Spain manager has yet to confirm whether the 17-year-old will start, but said Yamal would only feature if he was fully ready.

“We will see whether he starts the match, but if he plays, it will be because he is in perfect physical condition,” he added.

“He was with his club and everything went well. He avoided two long journeys and cold conditions, and he is in a state that allows him to play without any problem.”

Spain have already won all five of their matches in the group and lead the standings with 15 points. England are second on 12 points.

De la Fuente said the game would provide a significant test between two highly ranked teams, with Spain first and England third in the FIFA rankings.

“We are first and third in the FIFA rankings,” he said. “I remain committed to the Spanish football model. It is clear and distinctive, and our players are fully qualified to respond to this level of challenge.”

He also questioned why Spanish players command lower transfer fees than their English counterparts, despite his belief that they rank among the best in the world.

“It surprises me that Spanish players are valued less than English players,” said de la Fuente. “They are among the best in the world, yet less money is paid for them.”

“In England, much larger sums are paid. In my opinion, Spanish players are better.”

Sunday’s meeting will be Spain’s final group game, while England will attempt to close the gap at the top of Group C.

De la Fuente expects the contest in Madrid to showcase the highest level of the international game.

“On Sunday, we will watch one of the best matches currently available in world football,” he said.