Barcelona have been left sweating over the fitness of winger Lamine Yamal after he limped off late in Spain’s 1-0 win over Denmark.
Yamal played 93 of the 97 minutes on Saturday evening but, after being on the receiving end of three fouls and a number of tough tackles, looked in real discomfort as he limped off the pitch.
Cameras then caught Yamal limping after the game, leaving Barcelona fans worried that Yamal had suffered an injury.
MARCA state that Barcelona have already scheduled emergency talks with Spanish officials on Sunday for a full debrief on Yamal’s condition, with both parties prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure he remains healthy.
Yamal is expected to miss Spain’s clash with Serbia on Tuesday as a precaution.
A further report from SPORT states Spain medical staff have no concerns about an injury and are not planning any extra tests, confident Yamal is simply suffering from muscle fatigue.
Quizzed on the tough tackles, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente insisted it was simply a natural part of football.
“That’s how football is, you have to play with the toughness allowed by the rules,” he said. “Football is football, and everyone uses their own tactics. It’s the referee’s job to set the limits.
“It’s about intimidation, seeking contact… That’s what they aim to do with such young and talented players. The referees are the ones who need to draw the line, but he’ll have to get used to it.”