'They locked me in the house' - Lamine Yamal opens up on horrifying knife attack on father last year

Yamal has spoken for the first time about a horrifying knife attack that his father, Mounir Nasraoui, was the victim of in August 2024, revealing he was locked in his house by relatives to prevent him from rushing to the scene. In an interview on the Renonancia de Corazon podcast, the 18-year-old detailed the traumatic moment he learned of the incident.

Four suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, which left Mounir in serious condition with two stab wounds. The incident occurred in Mataro, where the player's dad lives, and reportedly erupted after an argument. Yamal's father was discharged from the hospital three days after the stabbing and Yamal went on to start for Barcelona, setting up a goal in their 2-1 La Liga victory against Valencia. 

Reflecting on the stabbing incident Yamal said: "I was in the car with my cousin, Moha. I had CarPlay on, which connects your phone to the speakers, and my cousin, who was in Morocco, called me. And she asked me: 'Are you alone?' And she started telling me about it, and more calls came in as well. At the time, I was a 16-year-old kid.

"The first thing I did was get out of the car and try to go to the train station to Mataro. Imagine being a child and hearing that your father had been stabbed . I tried to get on the train, but my cousin wouldn't let me. I told him to take me to Mataró or I'd never speak to him again, but they wouldn't let me. They locked me in the house, and I tried to get out.

"It was a tough time, and I had training the next day. Then my dad called and told me he was fine and to stay calm. I went to see him in the hospital the next day, and everything calmed down,” he explains.

"I see my father and grandmother relaxing in their homes. It's everything a child could wish for."

With the distressing event now in the past, Yamal continues his development as one of world football's most exciting talents. He remains a key player for Barcelona, who are competing to defend their La Liga title and wish for some European glory this season. He is also an established international for Spain, having lifted the European Championship last year. His focus will now be on the upcoming slate against Valencia on Sunday.