Spain boss issues defiant response about resting Lamine Yamal amid concerns about Barcelona star's workload

Yamal has had a busy 2024; making his breakthrough for Barcelona, starring in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, to now becoming a key player in Hansi Flick's side. When asked about the possibility of resting the 17-year-old for their upcoming Nations League matches amid concerns over his workload, De La Fuente made an impassioned argument on why he should play for his country.

He told reporters: "I’ll give you a fact: FIFA has done a study of the last 12 years of 40 days. The percentage of minutes played by players with the national team is 3.5 per cent. National team matches do not ‘injure’ anyone. We must compete and to do so we need the best. And with the few windows that we have, we must always turn to them. If I had the players in a club, for 10 or 11 months, I would manage their rest in a different way, but as a coach I must always call on the best."

Yamal has made 10 appearances for Barca this season, starting all but one of their matches in all competitions so far. He has scored five goals and five assists and giving the teenager enough rest may be key to getting the best out of him in the long term.

Winger Yamal is likely to feature for Barcelona on Sunday away to Alaves in La Liga action before playing some part in Spain's Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Serbia on October 12 and 15 respectively.