Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has on Thursday spoken out regarding the prospect of being called up by Spain for both the upcoming European Championships, and Olympic games.
Rumours surrounding the plans of the Royal Spanish Football Federation for Lamine this summer have of course long been in circulation in the media.
As much comes amid suggestions that the winger, despite his tender years, could be asked to participate in two international tournaments over the months ahead.
The Barca starlet is widely considered to be a shoo-in for a place in Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for Euro 2024.
And yet, Lamine is also understood to be at the very top of the shortlist of candidates to link up with La Roja’s U23s, for the Paris Olympics.
The powers that be at Barcelona are understandably opposed to such a prospect, having seen the long-term effects of international burnout on the likes of Pedri and Gavi in recent years gone by.
It will therefore no doubt come as a source of relief for all associated with the Blaugrana to hear that Lamine shares the viewpoint that featuring in both tournaments this summer would likely come as overkill.
Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo on Thursday, the 16-year-old was drawn on the subject, and went on to explain:
“It wouldn’t be logical to go to both because in the end since I started I have tried not to overload myself and play too much and it wouldn’t make sense to go to both. But obviously, if I have to go, in the end you are playing with Spain and it is a dream.”
Asked directly ‘if it were up to you, would you say no to the (Olympic) games?’, Lamine added:
“It also depends on how the Euros go but I think the most important thing would be to be in the Euros.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
