According to Mundo Deportivo, Yamal has fully integrated into the Spain national team training camp and is now focused on next week's match against England. He had previously rested for a few days in Barcelona to address inflammation and fluid accumulation in his knee after an impact, before arriving at the Spanish Football Federation's Football City yesterday noon local time to rejoin his teammates.
The 19-year-old Barcelona winger appeared alone, exuding the aura of a superstar that only chosen ones possess. According to those close to him, Yamal is currently calm and optimistic. They used a very vivid phrase to describe his state: "He is in Zen mode." Yamal is in good condition and high spirits, focusing on daily training with physiotherapists according to the plan agreed upon by Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation, in order to be in optimal condition for Sunday's match against England.
He is surrounded by family, friends, and his partner, and remains in contact with the head coach, who had previously publicly defended him. The two have been communicating via phone calls and messages this week. The media frenzy, criticism, and reports surrounding his situation have not affected him. The player maintains his usual way of dealing with pressure: blocking out everything happening around him and focusing on what happens on the pitch. He is very aware of the media environment and knows that certain media circles have their own interests, but he doesn't pay much attention to it. Like many young people of his generation, he pays more attention to social media than traditional media.
Yamal is very eager to play against England. This has no special connection to Harry Kane, who just won the Ballon d'Or. His mindset is much simpler: compete, win, score goals, and provide assists. If he can score a hat-trick against England, that would certainly be even better, but this is more out of ambition than targeting the opponent. However, he respects Kane and knows that this showdown will carry greater weight.
If there is one characteristic of this Barcelona international, it is his immense competitive spirit. Furthermore, the young player has always had the Nations League on his mind. He clearly expressed this in an interview with The Guardian. After winning the European Championship and the World Cup, although the Nations League does not have as much "glamour," it is the only national team trophy missing from his honors. He is particularly eager to win it to soothe the painful memory of losing to Portugal in a penalty shootout in the final. Therefore, his motivation is intact, there is no doubt about that. Yamal wants to lift that trophy and sees this competition as a major unfulfilled goal at the national team level.
Meanwhile, his feelings are positive. Yesterday afternoon local time, he already trained with his other teammates in a closed-door session, taking another step forward in his conditioning. The goal is clear: to be in good shape for the match against England. No noise, no distractions, with the same ambition as always. Yamal is in Zen mode until he steps onto the pitch at the Metropolitano Stadium.