The Sporting Director of Barcelona Deco comes out with a surprising contradiction of the president Joan Laporta
Barcelona president Joan Laporta criticized the Spanish national team for their handling of Lamine Yamal's fitness on Thursday night. He also went on to accuse the 17-year-old of pressuring him to stay with the national team for their clash against Serbia, but Barcelona Sporting Director Deco says Spaniard Luis de la Fuente is not to blame .
According to Chain SERthe Spanish national team staff emphatically denies Laporta's claims. They say that after the Denmark match last Saturday, they talked to Lamine Yamal about his injury, and then decided to release him. At no point did they try to convince him to stay with the Spanish team.
Deco: “Lamine Yamal writes his history in his club, which is Barça. Like Leo Messi, like Iniesta. He has everything to be a reference in his club. It's wonderful to have him at home.” @tudirasrac1
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 18, 2024
What is more surprising is that the same evening Deco absolves de la Fuente of responsibility for the manipulation Yamal platesfitness of. Speaking to RAC1 (via Sport), Deco joined the growing demands for calendar reform.
“The problem is not with De la Fuente. He does his job, he is the coach and tries to call the best players. Something must be done with the schedule. All the matches of the national team are official, before there were not so many . It is obvious that young players are subjected to many games.”
Hansi Flick at Xavi's house (IG). #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/w9y1i441JO
— Football España (@footballespana_) October 18, 2024
“Also Gavi or Pedri, but not only ours. We seem to be risking our lives in every game. We have to take care of Lamine, it is still in the training process, but if we individualize, we will be. unfair to others”.
Laporta had also criticized the Nations League competition, saying it had “slipped in through the back door”. Of course, de la Fuente has a duty of care to the players, and it is no surprise that the clubs are not excited by his comments that he will do everything in the last two group games that La Roja has, despite having already qualified. However, it is the Champions League, the Club World Cup and the Spanish Supercup that have added matches in the last five years, although the World Cup will expand in 2026.
