Yamal ruled out hours after Spain announcement
Barcelona has revealed Lamine Yamal will be sidelined for up to three weeks because of a recurrence of his groin injury, just hours after Spain named the winger in its squad for this month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Yamal missed four games after the September international break, having played in Spain's FIFA World Cup qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Turkiye before complaining of groin pain.
He returned from the bench in last week's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in LaLiga, then played the full 90 minutes of the UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
But 48 hours out from a trip to Sevilla, Barca revealed Yamal is set for another stint on the sidelines.
"The discomfort in the pubic area that player Lamine Yamal has been experiencing has reappeared after the match against PSG," a club statement read.
"He will be out for the Sevilla game, and the estimated recovery time is two to three weeks."
An absence of that length would mean Yamal is unable to link up with Luis de la Fuente's Roja squad for meetings with Georgia on 12 October (AEDT) and Bulgaria on 15 October (AEDT).
Barca was unhappy with Spain over its handling of Yamal's fitness in September, with Blaugrana coach Hansi Flick claiming the 18-year-old was already injured when he reported for international duty and had to take painkillers to get through the games.
After naming Yamal in his 26-man squad, De la Fuente hit back at those suggestions.
"Here, we take zero risks," he said.
"Whoever comes in, comes in healthy and fit to play. When they go back home, it is because we have judged there was a risk in staying with us.
"I always tell the truth. What happened was, when the games ended, he had a bit of an issue. But I don't pick players who are carrying an injury.
"Our medical services have explained it; I have explained it. If he had an issue after the game, I don't know about that."
De la Fuente also said he expected Flick to understand his desire to use Yamal, given his previous experience as an international coach with Germany.
"There is no conflict with Hansi, not at all. I was just surprised by the comments he made because he's been a national team coach," De la Fuente said.
"I thought he would have some empathy in that sense towards the role. That's the only thing, just that I was surprised he had that opinion, given he was Germany coach."
Yamal is not the only Spain winger who will miss the upcoming Group E fixtures, with Nico Williams also out injured.
Gavi and Fermin Lopez are also sidelined, while Alvaro Morata was a surprise omission from De la Fuente's squad.
Spain squad: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad); Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Dani Vivian (Athletic Club), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid); Rodri (Manchester City), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Aleix Garcia (Bayer Leverkusen), Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid); Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Samu Aghehowa (Porto), Jorge de Frutos (Rayo Vallecano), Jesus Rodriguez (Como).
