Four individuals taken into custody following stabbing of Spanish teen sensation Lamine Yamal’s father

BARCELONA – Local police in Catalonia have informed AFP that four individuals have been taken into custody following a knife assault on the father of renowned Spanish football prodigy Lamine Yamal.

The attack took place at 1910 GMT a day earlier in a car park in the Catalan town of Mataro, around 30km from Barcelona. It happened in the Rocafonda neighbourhood where Lamine Yamal is from, said a spokesman for the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force.

Yamal’s father Mounir Nasraoui was stabbed several times, according to the police, and is currently being treated at the Can Ruti hospital.

“Thanks to everyone for your support, I’m already doing better, a big hug for everyone,” wrote Nasraoui in a post on Instagram on the afternoon of Aug 15.

A source close to the family also told AFP that Nasraoui is now “out of danger” and “remains under observation” but in a stable condition.

Asked about the events and the victim’s possible release date from hospital, the source did not wish to say more.

The 17-year-old Yamal, who plays as a right winger for Barcelona and was one of the brightest stars for Spain at Euro 2024, was pictured leaving the hospital in a car after visiting his father.

Three people were arrested on Aug 14 at night and were being questioned at Mataro police station, while a fourth was taken into custody at 0900 GMT on Aug 15 morning.

Investigators must also interview the victim “as soon as possible”, as well as witnesses, to uncover the circumstances of the attack, said the police.

It was not clear what caused the attack, but Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia said the incident occurred after an argument in the street with some men who had approached him while he was walking his dog and later returned to assault him.

Yamal made his Barcelona debut aged 15 in April 2023 and burst into the limelight last season, becoming a key player for the Catalan giants.

The winger played a key role for his country as Spain triumphed at Euro 2024 for a record fourth time, becoming the youngest-ever footballer to play and score in the competition’s history.