Mounir Nasraoui, the father of teenage football sensation Lamine Yamal, was stabbed late Wednesday in a violent attack near Barcelona in southern Spain, Spanish media outlets reported.
The incident occurred in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataró, approximately 30 kilometers north of Barcelona, where Yamal grew up and where his father and grandmother still reside.
He was reportedly discharged from the hospital on the same day of the incident.
Nasraoui is in serious but stable condition following the attack, the Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia” reported.
The Catalan police are leading the investigation, though they have yet to issue public statements regarding the incident.
Eyewitnesses described how a group of men surrounded Yamal’s father while he was walking his dog. An argument reportedly broke out, leading to the stabbing. Nasraoui was quickly transported to the Can Ruti hospital for emergency treatment.
Lamine Yamal, now 17, has been making headlines as one of European football’s most promising young talents.
Earlier this year, he became the youngest player in history to appear in a European Championship at just 16 years old.
He had already set records as the youngest player to represent both Barcelona and the Spanish national team and became the youngest goal scorer in the history of La Liga, the Spanish Cup, and Spain.
Yamal’s talent shone brightly during the recent European Championship, where he scored against France in the semi-final and helped Spain secure a victory over England in the final.
The news of the attack on his father sent shockwaves through the football community. Fans and players alike expressed their concern and support for Yamal and his family.