'Why make a big deal about it?' - Spain coach defends handling of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo & Ferran Torres treatment amid Barcelona fury over injured stars

Spain manager De la Fuente faced the media ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria and addressed Barcelona’s frustration over the treatment of their stars on international duty. Olmo, who suffered a calf injury during the current break, has returned to Barcelona for further assessment and is expected to miss two to three weeks, ruling him out of El Clasico.

The injury reignited tensions between Spain’s medical staff and Barcelona, who were already unhappy about how teenager Yamal was managed during September’s fixtures. Torres was the latest to withdraw from the Spain squad, diagnosed with muscle overload just before the Bulgaria match.

The Spain boss strongly defended his staff’s approach, saying they have always placed player welfare first. 

"It's not just a new development, it's just this week. We've been working on and taking care of the players' health for a long time. A series of specific situations have arisen for each player that have indicated they had to leave the training camp. We've always done that."

He added: "We see players getting injured week after week in La Liga. This is just another week, and injuries can happen. I don't know why they're making such a big deal about it; it should be a source of pride for everyone that the players are here. Injuries are a part of football, but we prioritize the player's health even if people say things that don't correspond to reality."

De la Fuente also explained why Torres was withdrawn from the squad, clarifying that it was a precautionary move rather than a major concern.

“In an act of honesty, he tells me that he's not 100 percent fit and it's been decided that he should rest. He's a very important man in our future. I hope he recovers from these discomforts as soon as possible," he said.

The Spanish coach’s comments follow months of simmering tension between national and club medical teams. The Catalan giants are currently managing a growing injury list, with Olmo, Yamal and several other key names sidelined.

This is not the first flashpoint between the two camps. During the September international break, Yamal picked up a knock that continued to affect him weeks later. At the time, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick publicly accused De la Fuente of “not taking care” of the teenager.

"I want to protect my player, support him, this is what it is," Flick said. "A lot of things happened. This is, for me, done. I have no bad things about this situation. I know it from the other side. It's not easy for me. It's not easy for [De la Fuente]. I must protect my player; this is the reason I made it a little louder than normally I want to do it. I don't regret this. Now, the important thing is managing this together. The players, the clubs and the Spanish Federation. We have to manage it together."

De La Fuente responded by saying: "Do you think that today, in my homeland, and enjoying this moment, I'd remember what Hansi Flick said? Well, no, I'm not interested."

Spain will aim to seal their World Cup qualification when they face Bulgaria, while Barca continue to count the cost of another bruising international break. With El Clasico approaching, Flick’s side face a race against time to get Torres and Yamal fit.