Barcelona move to block Spain call-up for teenage star Lamine Yamal over injury fears

Barcelona are prepared to prevent teenage sensation Lamine Yamal from joining up with Spain during the upcoming international window, citing ongoing injury concerns that have left the winger short of full fitness.

The move threatens to spark a familiar club-versus-country dispute as his availability continues to divide opinion.

Yamal, who is of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean heritage, has become one of Spain’s brightest young talents since breaking into the national team setup.

But his recent struggles with a recurring groin problem have placed his involvement in October’s World Cup qualifiers in serious doubt.

The 18-year-old made his return in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday, featuring for the final 32 minutes.

His comeback followed three weeks on the sidelines, having missed league games against Valencia, Getafe, and Real Oviedo, as well as a Champions League tie with Newcastle.

Reports in Catalan outlet ARA suggest Barcelona intend to block his call-up for Spain’s fixtures against Georgia and Bulgaria.

Club officials are said to be wary of aggravating an issue that already worsened during the last international break, when Yamal played through pain with the aid of painkillers.

That decision angered coach Hansi Flick, who has since been cautious in managing the teenager’s minutes.

Yamal’s meteoric rise has made him indispensable for both club and country, but Barcelona are determined to protect their prized asset in the face of potential long-term risks.

The situation underscores the growing tension between the demands of national team duty and the need to carefully manage a young player’s development.

With Spain eyeing crucial qualification points and Barcelona fighting to maintain momentum in La Liga and Europe, the battle over Yamal’s fitness looks set to intensify in the coming days.