Barcelona midfielder Fermín López has given an encouraging update on Lamine Yamal’s recovery, expressing belief that the teenage star will be ready for the 2026 World Cup despite being ruled out for the remainder of the domestic season due to a muscle tear.
Yamal, who is expected to play a key role for Luis de la Fuente’s Spain this summer, has been working hard to regain fitness. López spoke to Mundo Deportivo, saying: “He is doing well. Getting injured is tough at first because he’s ambitious and loves to help on the pitch. Now, he can’t play until the World Cup, but he’s focused on recovery, and I think he’ll be in great shape.”
This optimism aligns with Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s recent comments, noting that the 18-year-old trains three hours daily to be ready for international duty.
López also praised Hansi Flick’s impact at Barcelona, describing the German coach as “very approachable, ambitious, and demanding.” He added: “We’re very happy with him. We’ve improved a lot as a team and individually.”
Reflecting on the team’s success built on La Masia talent, López said: “Real Madrid is our biggest rival with top-quality players. It’s remarkable that with homegrown players we’ve won two consecutive league titles.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup, López is confident in his own role. “I see myself playing an important part. Luis gives me confidence, and I’ve played more recently. I think I’ve taken a step forward with the national team,” he said. “We have a great squad capable of repeating what we did at the European Championship. That’s our dream and goal.”
