Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente was involved in a heated exchange with a journalist over Lamine Yamal’s injury.
De la Fuente and Spain were criticised by Barcelona and their coach Hansi Flick when Lamine returned from the last international break injured.
It later emerged that the star forward had been given pain-killing injections during the break, something Joaquín Maroto of AS tried to clarify.
“The sequence of events is that Dr. Claudio Vázquez gives him an injection of Voltaren, which is a non-sterilized anti-inflammatory, in the glute, between one match and another…” Maroto began.
De la Fuente interrupted to ask: “Was he playing for his club? Yes. Yes or no? Not now. But when he came here, was he playing in his club?”
Maroto responded: “You’re over-answering the question. If he’s playing in his club, because they’ll also assume what you’re saying.”
De la Fuente then said: “I’m not saying it, you’re the one saying it — they’ll assume those risks, right? In his club, yes? Yes or no?”
Things then got even more headed at the coach asked: “Have you played football? No? Well, that’s why I don’t understand that question. Risk in football, in sports, always exists.
“If you address me formally, I’ll address you formally. Don’t address me formally either, you’re just beating around the bush. I mean, you’re not saying anything.”
Spain’s press officer then intervened to calm things down, with De la Fuente again making the point that only experts in their field should comment.
“When I finish my medical degree, I’ll treat him myself,” he finished, angrily.
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