Lamine Yamal has rejoined the Spain squad and is targeting Sunday’s match against England as he continues his preparation following a knee problem.
The 19-year-old Barcelona winger spent several days resting in Barcelona after suffering inflammation and fluid accumulation in his knee following an impact. He arrived at the Spanish Football Federation’s Football City at noon local time yesterday and has since resumed work with his international team-mates.
Yamal trained in a closed-door session yesterday afternoon as part of a programme agreed between Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation. The aim is for him to reach the fixture at the Metropolitano Stadium in the best possible condition.
Those close to the player say he is calm and optimistic, describing his current mindset as: “He is in Zen mode.”
Yamal is working daily with physiotherapists and is said to be in good physical condition and high spirits. He has the support of his family, friends and partner, while also remaining in regular contact with the head coach who publicly backed him earlier in the week.
The pair have exchanged phone calls and messages, but the criticism, media attention and reports concerning Yamal’s situation have not changed his approach. He has continued to shut out the noise and concentrate on his work on the pitch.
Yamal is aware of the media environment and understands that some sections of the media have their own interests. However, he pays little attention to traditional coverage and, like many people of his generation, follows social media more closely.
His motivation for the England game is straightforward: to compete, win, score and create goals. A hat-trick would be welcome, although that ambition is not specifically connected to Harry Kane, who has just won the Ballon d’Or. Yamal respects Kane and recognises that a meeting between the two will attract particular attention.
Winning the Nations League remains a major objective for the Barcelona player. He discussed the competition in an interview with The Guardian, explaining that it is the only senior international trophy missing from his collection after Spain’s successes at the European Championship and the World Cup.
Although he accepts the Nations League does not carry the same “glamour” as those tournaments, Yamal is determined to win it. That desire is partly driven by Spain’s painful defeat by Portugal in the final, when they lost on penalties.
His focus is therefore unchanged as he builds towards England. Yamal wants to add the Nations League to his honours and sees it as an important unfinished task with Spain. For now, he remains in “Zen mode”, concentrating on his training until he walks out at the Metropolitano Stadium.
