'He was going to kill him' - Details of attack on Lamine Yamal’s father revealed as witnesses recalls shocking scenes of horror confrontation

The incident is said to have taken place on 14 August 2024 in the Rocafonda neighbourhood of Mataró in Catalonia, Spain. The area is that where Yamal was raised, with its now famous ‘304’ postcode which is symbolised by Yamal in his goal celebrations.

Reported by La Vanguardia, Nasraoui was rushed to hospital after the attack, which led to him suffering three stab wounds which were said to be "life-threatening" by a forensic doctor at Can Ruti hospital in Badalona, where Yamal’s father remained for several days in their intensive care unit.

Nasraoui, 39, testified in a Mataro court two weeks ago, but surprisingly as a defendant rather than a victim. This is because the perpetrators of the attack claimed Nasraoui was stabbed "by mistake", and that they were acting in self-defence after taking the knife from a friend of Nasraoui’s, and ended up with a nasal septum fracture as a result of a punch by Nasraoui. The latter claimed that any blows he dealt were to "defend himself" as he was cornered at a car park near a football pitch in Rocafonda.

The incident reportedly began after Nasraoui had water thrown at him from the third floor of a nearby building. An initial argument escalated as a result. "This cannot happen, man. I was walking calmly and they throw things at me. Either a good lawyer settles this, or we will deal with it later," said Nasraoui.

The attack is said to have occurred six hours later at the car park, says the first witness account.

"Mounir has run, he [the one with the knife] comes after him and stabs him. He sticks it two or three times in the chest and side."

Another witness account added: "They wanted to kill him. One was carrying a knife. He started as if he were an animal. He was going to kill him."

"Adrian was sitting behind, he ran away with the knife and went towards Mounir. I have seen it before my eyes. And he stabbed him three or four times," said another witness.

Accounts of the four witnesses of the incident were taken on the same night as the attack, all separately so to avoid coordinating their accounts. The four alleged attackers were arrested and the alleged perpetrator of the stabbings was detained, before he was released so to change his defence team and with the new development that he claimed he was acting in self defence to an attack by Nasraoui. The case is ongoing and there may be further developments in due course.

This incident indicates some of the dangers which come with fame and success as a footballer. Yamal has been said to have come from humble beginnings, and his father has allegedly felt the full effects of those who may not be happy to see Yamal and his family succeed.

The 18-year-old continues to grow in fame and fortune at his young age, now with Barca’s iconic No.10 shirt on his back and many of the hopes and dreams of La Blaugrana and Spain on his shoulders. Having been the recent runner-up to Ousmane Dembele in the Ballon d’Or and nearly the youngest-ever winner of the award, he is rising to the increasing pressure thus far.

Yamal has registered two goals and four assists in La Liga so far this season as Barca trail Real Madrid in second place, but has spent time out in recent weeks with a groin injury. Yamal and his father Nasraoui will hope that the incident surrounding the attack is resolved soon and the perpetrators are brought to justice, so that the teenager and his family remain safe off the pitch so to offer the young star the greatest chance of succeeding and reaching his vast potential on it.