Barcelona star to miss Spain's Nations League clash against Serbia, set to return to club: Reports
Lamine Yamal will reportedly return to Barcelona as he will miss Spain's Nations League clash against Serbia, scheduled on Tuesday, October 15.
The 17-year-old was seen limping off the pitch in the final moments of Spain's 1-0 win over Denmark on Saturday, October 12. Against Denmark, Yamal gave a decent performance, as his passing accuracy was 84% and he had two shots on target.
Fortunately, a report from SPORT later confirmed that the Barcelona forward had no injury concerns but was suffering from muscle fatigue. As per the aforementioned report, Barcelona also asked for his release from international duty, allowing him more time to rest.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the teen has been ruled out of La Roja's game against Serbia and will now travel to Barcelona. Hansi Flick's side will next face Sevilla on Sunday, October 20. As a result, Lamine Yamal will have a week to rest before Blaugrana host Sevilla.
Yamal has played 11 games for the Camp Nou outfit this season across competitions, bagging five goals and five assists. Nevertheless, big matches await the La Liga giants as they will face Bayern Munich on October 23, in the UEFA Champions League, before El Clasico on October 26.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer picks Barcelona legend as his idol
In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, Chelsea star Cole Palmer was asked to choose between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the football GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate. Replying to the question, Palmer outright chose Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. He said:
"Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? For me, Lionel Messi. I wanted to be Lionel Messi when I was a child."
Lionel Messi left Barcelona in August 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a free transfer. However, he currently plays for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, which he joined last summer. He has guided the Herons to two accolades: the Leagues Cup and the Supporters' Shield Trophy.
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer joined Chelsea from Pep Guardiola's Manchester City for a reported initial transfer fee of £40 million in September 2023. Earlier this year, he signed a contract extension with the Blues, which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
Since joining Chelsea, the Englishman has bagged 31 goals and 20 assists in 54 appearances across competitions. This season, he's Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League with six goals.