Spain manager urges caution with Barcelona wonderkid: “Have to take care of him”

Luis de la Fuente’s Spain arguably played the game of the international break earlier this week. Featuring in their first UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier of the break, La Roja deposited seven goals past a helpless Georgia to register a massive win in Group A.

The men in red were helped by an Alvaro Morata hat-trick and some brilliant finishes from the younger crop of players. The name that made the headlines, however, was Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

The 16-year-old became the youngest-ever player to feature for La Roja. If the record-breaking achievement was not enough for him, he scored an emphatic goal and became the team’s youngest-ever goalscorer.

De la Fuente spoke to the media ahead of his team’s second game of the international break against Cyprus earlier today.

As part of his interaction, he touched on the topic of Yamal’s talent and how it was essential to judiciously utilise him at his tender age.

“We have to take care of him, this will always be a priority. Injuries are part of football. We must be patient with Lamine, he will have his chances,” the manager said.

Ferran’s return to the international stage

Ferran Torres is another of Barcelona’s stars who has taken the new season by storm. While he was not initially included in the Spanish roster, the manager called on him earlier this week as a replacement for the team’s injured stars.

“I have known Ferran Torres for many years, I have seen his evolution and maturity as a soccer player,” de la Fuente said when asked about his choice of Torres as the replacement player.

“He needs confidence to be the Ferran we need. We can’t not use footballers of this level. [With two injuries], we considered that it was the right time to call him for the casualties. He won’t miss the opportunity,” he added.

Source: X/SEFutbol