Luis de la Fuente on Lamine Yamal's Invisible Training
Luis de la Fuente leaned on the lectern at the launch of his autobiography, “Life is Trained Every Day”, and chose not to talk about himself. He talked about an 18-year-old.
Not about Lamine Yamal’s talent – that part, he suggested, is the least interesting. About the work.
“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,” the Spain coach said, lifting the curtain on the winger’s routine. “Invisible training is something that many people are unaware of. It’s about being 24 hours thinking about your work. Nobody gives Lamine anything.”
This is the image De la Fuente wanted to project: not a prodigy carried by natural gifts, but a teenager obsessed with squeezing every last drop out of them.
World Cup on the horizon
Yamal’s race against time has become one of Spain’s central storylines ahead of the World Cup in North America. A muscle tear in late April halted his season and ruled him out of the rest of Barcelona’s La Liga campaign, a blow for club and country alike.
The mood has shifted in recent days. The winger is back on the grass at Barcelona’s training complex, easing through sessions, rebuilding rhythm. Each step is logged, measured, checked.
Inside the national team camp, there is growing optimism. De la Fuente sounded convinced that, when the international spotlight arrives, Yamal will be there.
“I talk about Lamine because I know him very well. God willing, he will arrive at the World Cup as well as possible,” he said. Barcelona, wary of overload, remain anxious about his schedule, but Spain’s staff are tracking every detail of his recovery to avoid rushing him back into the red zone.
Not from zero to 90
That doesn’t mean Spain will simply throw him straight into the starting XI and ask for 90 minutes from day one. De la Fuente has already floated a different plan: Yamal as a weapon off the bench in the early games, a high-impact substitute rather than an immediate centrepiece.
The idea is clear. Protect him now to unleash him later.
With the teenager sidelined for the rest of the league season, the national team’s medical and technical staff are working on a phased return. The target is not the first group match. It is the decisive nights at the business end of the tournament.
De la Fuente has a recent example in mind. Dani Olmo arrived at Euro 2024 short of full fitness, close to being cut from the squad. Spain kept faith, managed his minutes carefully – and were rewarded.
“We contemplate all the scenarios. If you are winning, if you are losing, if the opponent is left with ten... There are players who can give you 20 minutes and that also has enormous value,” the coach explained. “Olmo arrived injured, we were about to rule him out, but then he was decisive in the European Championship.”
That blueprint now hangs over every conversation about Yamal’s role this summer.
Gavi back in the frame
Yamal is not the only Barcelona player forcing his way into De la Fuente’s thoughts. Gavi, combative and relentless, has fought his own way back and is again pushing at the door of the national team.
After a long lay-off, the midfielder has strung together a series of strong performances at club level. The response from the Spain coach was measured but positive.
“He’s in a very good moment. Best of all, he has recovered. He’s competing fantastically at his club and we celebrate. That’s the best news. Then we will make the decision whether to call up a player or not,” De la Fuente said.
Two teenagers, two recoveries at different stages, one World Cup looming. Spain’s coach has made his stance clear: reputations won’t carry anyone, but hard work might.
For Yamal, the “invisible training” continues. The question now is not whether he will be there, but how Spain choose to light the fuse.
