FC Barcelona have reached an important agreement with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in relation to their La Masia players Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, according to SPORT, which cites anonymous sources.
Having been part of Barca’s first team this season and regular starters under head coach Xavi Hernandez, Lamine and Cubarsi, aged 16 and 17 respectively, are the prime suspects to represent Spain at this summer’s European Championship and Olympics.
Barça’s sporting director, Deco, however, shared his opinion on this possible progression in his appearance on the show Que T’hi Juegues.
“We don’t need any players to participate in the Euros or the Games. The Spanish Football Federation knows this, but it has to be communicated to the players and managed,” Deco said.
Later, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Lamine confessed that he did think it would be “reasonable” to play in either tournament.
“It wouldn’t be moderate to go through either because in the end, since I’m in the starting eleven, it’s about not being loaded and betting too much and it wouldn’t make any sense,” Lamine said.
“But obviously, if I have to leave, in the end you’re playing for Spain and it’s a dream,” he added.
Lamine cited Pedri’s case as a warning about how things can happen when young players are overworked.
The midfielder completed one season in 2020/2021, then played in the European Championship and the Olympic Games.
Since then, Pedri has not played in more than 50 Barca games this season due to injuries, and specific blows to his thigh, which keep him sidelined.
In this sense, Barça need to avoid a possible repeat with Lamine and Cubarsi and have reached an agreement with the RFEF in this regard.
In short, the two teenagers will only make it to the European Championship in Germany and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games if their participation in the first tournament has been “minimal”.
But although they have been protagonists on German soil, “the federation will not even allow them to participate in the Olympic Games,” according to SPORT.
Such progression will allow teenagers to sign up for Xavi Hernandez’s team in the most productive way imaginable, and perhaps even avoid a pre-season trip to the United States.