Lamine Yamal at centre of Spain debate as La Roja prepare for England clash in Madrid

Lamine Yamal is back in the Spain squad ahead of Sunday's Nations League meeting with England at the Metropolitano in Madrid, and his availability has become a national talking point. The Barcelona winger missed the trip to Prague, where Spain beat Czechia 2-0, after a scan showed fluid on his right knee. Coach Luis de la Fuente said the 19-year-old is in good condition and set to play.

The decision not to travel triggered a wider argument in Spain. Some commentators and broadcast debates suggested the national team had given in to Barcelona and that the player was receiving preferential treatment. De la Fuente rejected that claim, saying the accusations were based on lies and a lack of rigour.

A dispute with a history

The row has roots in earlier friction between Barcelona and the Spanish federation over how the player's workload and treatment should be handled. Hansi Flick had complained that Spain had not looked after the winger properly, while De la Fuente had expressed surprise at what he saw as a lack of understanding from a former national team coach.

De la Fuente pointed out that the same arrangement had been made for Mikel Oyarzabal. He also noted that Yamal had played more minutes than the 270-minute limit he had set during the previous international break, which he said was not considered in the criticism. "I rebel against lies and the things that are made up," he said, explaining why he had spoken more forcefully than usual.

Squad news and the shirt number

Spain have some absentees. Dani Olmo and captain Rodri are injured, while Oyarzabal has just become a father. Yamal is listed as wearing the No. 10 shirt for the England match, a number usually worn by Olmo for Spain. Sports Illustrated reported that the change is a administrative consequence of Olmo's absence, since UEFA rosters require numbers to run in sequence. Yamal is expected to return to No. 19 when Olmo is available again, probably in March 2027.

England's response

On the opposite side, England head coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to field a full-strength side, with James Trafford set to start in goal ahead of Jordan Pickford. Sky Sports reported that Lewis Hall is the most likely player to be tasked with marking Yamal at left-back, a matchup that has drawn attention in Spain after Hall's performance against Barcelona earlier this year. Tuchel has said he wants to test Trafford in a high-pressure match.

What next

Spain host England on Sunday, a result that will settle the Nations League group, with England aiming to top Group A3. De la Fuente's public comments suggest the debate over Yamal's club and country commitments will continue beyond the match. For now, the central fact is that the player has been cleared to return and is expected to be involved against England.

Dani Olmo and Rodri remain out with injuries.

Note: the match is described in the reports as a Nations League fixture at Madrid's Metropolitano.