Spain’s national football coach, Luis de la Fuente, has expressed his thoughts on the unusual and unprecedented circumstances surrounding Lamine Yamal’s undisclosed medical procedure, which has sparked a significant dispute between his club and country.

The young football prodigy recently underwent a radiofrequency treatment to address a recurring groin issue. However, this procedure was shrouded in secrecy as neither Yamal nor his club, Barcelona, informed Spain’s medical team of the treatment.

Yamal, 18, was initially selected for Spain’s squad on November 7, ahead of their matches against Georgia and Turkey. Yet, just three days later, the national team released him from duty after discovering he had undergone the procedure on the very day that training commenced.

In an interview with RNE, de la Fuente remarked, “It doesn’t seem very normal to me. I’ve never encountered a situation like this before. These events occur outside the national team’s jurisdiction, and it’s something we must accept.”

He further commented, “I was as surprised as anyone else. You have no prior information or details, and then you’re informed suddenly. In health matters, such surprises can leave one taken aback.”

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente (right), pictured with Lamine Yamal at the Euro 2024 final, has hit out at the ‘abnormal’ and ‘unprecedented’ situation involving his secret ‘invasive’ procedure

Yamal underwent radiofrequency treatment on his persistent groin injury 

He added: ‘I was surprised like everyone else; you don’t have any news or know any details, they tell you, and in health matters, one is left surprised.’

In a damning statement on Tuesday morning, the Spanish FA labelled the operation as ‘invasive’ and expressed their ‘surprise’ at him needing it in the first place.

‘The Medical Services of the RFEF wish to express their surprise and discomfort after learning at 13:47 on Monday, November 10, the day of the start of the official training camp with the national team, that player Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure for the treatment of his pubic discomfort that same morning,’ their statement read.

‘This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the medical staff of the National Team, with knowledge of the details only through a report received at 22:40 last night, which indicated the medical recommendation of rest for 7-10 days.

‘Given this situation, and prioritising at all times the health, safety and well-being of the player, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has made the decision to release the athlete from the current call-up.

‘We are confident that he will recover well and wish him a speedy and full recovery.’

Yamal is at the heart of a club vs country storm that has been building up for months. 

The Barcelona superstar has missed a handful of matches already this season with what his club described as ‘a problem in his pubic area’. 

Lamal, pictured with Barcelona chief Joan Laporta, did not inform the national team of his procedure

According to Spanish publication Sport his condition is called Pubalgia, with club bosses fearing the pain is chronic and incurable. 

Pubalgia is a condition that causes muscles to converge in the groin area causing pain and discomfort rather than a strain or pull to the muscle, the usual injury suffered by footballers in that area of the body. 

Occasionally it is referred to as sports hernia and is caused by an imbalance in the muscles in the groin and abdomen. 

Physical therapy and rest are usually the treatments used to ease the issue but evidently Yamal has gone a step further with the ‘invasive’ approach to ease his discomfort. 

After an international break earlier in the season, Yamal’s club boss Hansi Flick hit out at the Spanish set-up for pushing Yamal too hard physically while he suffered with the issue. 

He said: ‘Lamine goes to the national team with pain, didn’t train and had painkillers to play.

‘They were three goals up in every match and he played 79 and 73 minutes.

Yamal is pictured in training with Barcelona last week alongside manager Hansi Flick 

‘Between the matches, he didn’t train. This is not taking care of players. Spain have the best team in the world and in every position they are unbelievably good. So I am really sad about this.’

Yamal is the highest-profile teenager in world football and reportedly earns a remarkable £325,000 per week at the Spanish giants.

Clearly both Barcelona and the national team want to squeeze as much out of his talent as possible, meaning he being pulled in different directions. 

Pubalgia is often suffered by young players still growing into their bodies and Yamal has already played an unusual amount of senior football for his age. 

He burst onto the scene at 15 and has already won two LaLiga titles, a domestic cup and the Spanish Super Cup as well as Euro 2024. 

Yamal was called up for games against Georgia and Turkey but has gone back to his club 

It remains to be seen whether the club vs country row will continue to escalate 

An ex-Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, is another who suffered with the same groin issue and offers hope for Yamal, his club and country that the problem is treatable and will ease in time.  

Speaking to Buenos Aires radio station club94.7 six years ago, Messi said: ‘Pubalgia is complicated.

‘I suffer from it for a while now, I do little training and I can not play all the games.

‘It is not a problem that can be solved overnight. I feel better now, but I still have not recovered and I still need treatment.’

Managing the workload of the youngster, especially with the World Cup next year, will be crucial and as it stands – the relationship between club and country appears to be in a dreadful state.