Yamal training for ´three hours a day´ to make World Cup, says Spain boss De la Fuente

Lamine Yamal is training for “three hours a day” to arrive at the World Cup in the best condition possible, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has revealed.

Yamal was ruled out for the remainder of Barcelona’s season after sustaining a hamstring injury during the Blaugrana’s victory over Celta Vigo in April.

Reports immediately suggested Yamal should return for the World Cup, as Spain attempt to add FIFA’s flagship trophy to the European Championship crown they won in 2024.

Yamal has 27 goal involvements in LaLiga this season (16 goals, 11 assists), with only Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (28 – 24 goals, four assists) providing more. The Barca winger is the only player in double figures for assists.

Spain face Cape Verde in their opening Group H game in Atlanta on June 15, with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay their next two opponents.

And De la Fuente believes Yamal’s dedication will ensure he is ready to headline La Roja’s push to win the World Cup for a second time, having not triumphed since 2010.

“Apart from his great talent, he trains three hours a day, goes to the gym, visits his physio, his nutritionist and his psychologist, and gives himself to his invisible training, which is the most important thing,” De la Fuente said, as quoted by Goal.

“Invisible training is something that many people are unaware of. It’s about spending 24 hours thinking about your work. Nobody gives Lamine anything.

“I talk about Lamine because I know him very well. God willing, he will arrive at the World Cup as well as possible.”

At Euro 2024, Yamal became the youngest-ever goalscorer at a Euros or World Cup, overtaking Pele, after the Brazil great scored as a 17-year-old against Wales at the 1958 World Cup.

Yamal, the Young Player of the Tournament in Germany, provided four assists – the most ever recorded by a player at a single edition of the Euros.

While De la Fuente is desperate to have Yamal in peak condition, he is also aware of the need to have plenty of options, highlighting the way Dani Olmo recovered from injury to shine at Euro 2024.

He added: “We contemplate all the scenarios. If you are winning, if you are losing, if the opponent is left with 10 players…

“There are players who can give you 20 minutes and that also has enormous value. Olmo arrived injured. We were about to rule him out, but then he was decisive in the Euros.”