Luis de la Fuente Praises Lamine Yamal and Recalls Pain Over Gavi Injury

Spain’s head coach hails Lamine Yamal as a special talent while opening up about the emotional impact of Gavi’s injury.

Luis de la Fuente once again expressed his excitement about the future of the Spanish national team, placing special emphasis on the rise of Lamine Yamal, whom he considers a truly unique talent. In an interview with DAZN, the coach was full of praise for the young Barcelona star, describing him as a player “touched by a magic wand” and someone destined to be special.

Beyond his technical ability, De la Fuente highlighted Lamine’s personality and values, pointing out his education, respect, and maturity. For the coach, the youngster represents both the present and the future of Spain, which is why the federation worked hard to secure his commitment to the national team.

However, the interview also included an emotional reflection. De la Fuente recalled the difficult moment following the serious injury of Gavi, describing it as one of the toughest experiences for the squad. “It felt like a family member had been hurt,” he admitted, underlining the strong bond within the team.

Regarding Rodri, the coach showed confidence in his recovery, stating that he is progressing well and reaffirming his status as one of the best midfielders in the world, alongside Martín Zubimendi. De la Fuente also addressed recent on-field tensions between Lamine Yamal and Dani Carvajal, downplaying the incidents and stressing the importance of unity within the national team. He expressed confidence that both players would quickly put any differences aside.

Looking ahead, the Spanish coach made it clear that the 2026 World Cup is already a key objective, with the entire nation dreaming of competing once again at the highest level of international football.