Yamal, Luis de la Fuente’s prized possession, is facing the possibility of competing in both the Euro 2024 and the Olympics. However, concerns have been raised within the Barcelona camp about the potential strain on the young player if he competes in both competitions in close succession. The club wants to avoid a situation like 2021, when Pedri’s fitness suffered due to the demanding schedule of multiple international tournaments.
In light of these concerns, Yamal recently addressed the issue directly in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, acknowledging the difficulties of competing in both the Euros and the Olympics.
“It wouldn’t be wise to participate in both tournaments,” he went on to say. “I’ve always tried to avoid overloading myself and playing too much, so doing both wouldn’t make sense. However, representing Spain is undoubtedly a dream. It depends on how the Euro Cup plays out, but I believe the priority is the Euro Cup.”
However, Yamal is “definitely” open to reconsidering his stance if he is used sparingly in the Euros or Spain exits the competition early.
While the Spanish Football Federation has assured Barcelona that they will not overload their young players, the Catalans are expected to take steps to prevent their players from competing in both tournaments. Real Madrid has already taken a firm stance, prohibiting their players from competing in two competitions, demonstrating the importance that clubs place on player well-being and performance. Yamal will return to action when Barcelona travels to Parc des Princes to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.