Gavi caught Rodri on the foot in training in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the mood around Spain's camp changed fast. Rodri was in pain at first, but he continued the session after the discomfort eased. Luis de la Fuente did not ask for apologies. He said, “I want this Gavi.”
Why de la Fuente backed Gavi
This is where Spain's coach made his position plain. “This is football; it's training. The players are very committed, and nobody has to apologise to anybody. Everything is fine. We know Gavi, he has that energy, that drive. That's one of his virtues. He has to control it and ration it. But I want this Gavi,” de la Fuente told goal.com.
That view is not hard to understand. Pablo Gavi has been producing at a very high level, and Spain do not want to strip the edge out of his game just because one challenge landed badly in a session. His standout recent display was a 10 rating in Barcelona's 4-1 win on April 11, when he delivered 1 goal and 2 assists. He also averaged 8.74 across his last five matches, which is the sort of form Spain want in the middle of a World Cup camp.
There is still a line to be drawn, and de la Fuente said it himself: Gavi has to control it and ration it. But the public defence matters. In this camp, Spain are clearly more concerned with keeping his intensity than turning him into a safer version of himself.
Yamal is being handled with more caution
The other half of Spain's camp picture is much calmer. Lamine Yamal sustained a hamstring injury in his left leg in late April during a match against Celta Vigo, and the plan is to bring him back carefully rather than force the issue.
De la Fuente said Yamal, Nico Williams and Víctor are meeting their recovery deadlines and should be available for the next match if there are no problems in the coming days. Aitor Karanka added that Spain and Barcelona are working with the club's medical staff and will judge “the best time” for his return.
That is the sensible approach. Yamal is expected to be available for the opener against Cape Verde on June 15, but not necessarily to start. Spain have fixtures against Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 27 after that, so there is no need to gamble with his minutes in the first session back.
The contrast inside the camp is clear enough. Gavi is being backed to keep playing on the edge, while Yamal is being wrapped in caution because of the hamstring problem that hit him in late April. Spain can live with that split approach for now, and the next check comes before the Cape Verde opener on June 15.
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