Spanish National Team Coach Luis De La Fuente Praises Maturity of 17-Year-Old Lamine Yamal

Luis de la Fuente has selected 26 players for the Spanish national team to compete against France in the Nations League semi-finals. The match will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Germany on Friday (6 June).

Gavi and Lamine Yamal have been recalled by de la Fuente to bolster the squad. The coach also praised the two young Barcelona players.

Lamine Yamal’s maturity caught the attention of Luis de la Fuente because the player is still only 17 years old. “He’s a special player; he’s touched by the miracle of God. You have to know how to manage him. He and his club are performing exceptionally well. He is very mature for his age; he handles situations naturally. Let’s not forget that he’s only 17 and has the potential to become a legendary footballer,” he said, as quoted in Barca Blaugranes on Wednesday (28 May).

De la Fuente is also confident that Yamal will continue to develop as a footballer and one day become a legend of the sport. ‘He is a footballer with a great future, but for now, we are looking at Lamine. In three or four years, Lamine will be even better. If he stays healthy, he will be a great footballer and a legend,” continued the 63-year-old coach.

De La Fuente is not only a legend, but also confident that his protégé will win the Ballon d’Or within the next few years. ‘Sometimes it’s the small details that decide who wins the Ballon d’Or. I don’t know when that will be, but it will happen. He is destined to repeat this achievement. We’ll see this season, but the most important thing is that he continues to work like a professional. If he does that, he will definitely win it,” said the Spanish national team coach, who has held the position since 2023.

Since making his debut in 2023, Lamine Yamal has consistently demonstrated impressive form with the Spanish national team. To date, he has earned 19 caps, scoring four goals and providing nine assists, including against England in the Euro 2024 final.

Meanwhile, Gavi has been recalled to the Spanish national team following an ACL injury. De La Fuente noted that the player has struggled to recover this season.

‘It’s a natural process. These injuries take time. Getting medical clearance is one thing; performance is another,” he said.

De La Fuente praised Gavi, who always works hard to reach the highest level. “Gavi is already performing well, but he still has a long way to go and must continue to work hard. He is in the process of getting there, and he’s already at a very high level. He is a very important player for us. He will play, and we are celebrating his inclusion in the list of players,” he concluded.

Gavi last played for the Spanish national team against Georgia in 2023. Since making his debut in 2021, the 20-year-old midfielder has made 2 appearances.