Barcelona visit Chelsea in a crunch Champions League clash on Tuesday night, and Yamal will hope to be fully fit to take part in the encounter.
Recent reports detailed an intense recovery plan by Barca to have him ready for the match, having missed the international break with Spain. But Yamal returned to action last time out and played a full 90 against Athletic Club in La Liga, bagging two assists for Ferran Torres in a 4-0 victory, and so he is expected to be fully fit to face the Blues.
But club-versus-country drama was created over the international break, as Spanish football authorities claimed they were kept in the dark about treatment which meant Yamal would need to pull out of international duty.
They said in a statement: “The medical services of the Royal Spanish Football Federation wish to express their surprise and concern upon learning, at 13:47 on Monday 10 November – the day the national team’s official training camp began – that Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure earlier that same morning to treat discomfort in his pubic area.
“This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the national team’s medical staff, who only became aware of the details through a report received at 22:40 last night, in which a medical recommendation of 7-10 days of rest was indicated.
“In light of this situation, and with the player’s health, safety, and well-being as the top priority, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has decided to release the player from the current squad.”