Four individuals have been detained following a knife attack on the father of Spanish football prodigy Lamine Yamal in Catalonia, as confirmed by local police to AFP on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday at 1910 GMT in a parking area in Mataro, a town about 30 kilometers from Barcelona, in the Rocafonda neighborhood where Yamal grew up, according to a spokesperson for the Catalan regional police force, Mossos d’Esquadra. Mounir Nasraoui, Yamal’s father, was stabbed multiple times and is currently receiving treatment at Can Ruti hospital.
Nasraoui took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to express his gratitude: “Thanks to everyone for your support, I’m already doing better, a big hug for everyone.” A source close to the family informed AFP that Nasraoui is now “out of danger,” remains “under observation,” but is in a “stable” condition. The source declined to provide further details regarding the events or Nasraoui’s potential release from the hospital.
Yamal was seen leaving the hospital after visiting his father. Three suspects were arrested on Wednesday night and are being questioned at the Mataro police station, with a fourth suspect apprehended at 0900 GMT on Thursday morning. Investigators plan to interview the victim and witnesses as soon as possible to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
According to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, the incident followed an argument between Nasraoui and several men who had approached him while he was walking his dog. The men later returned to assault him. Lamine Yamal, who made his Barcelona debut at 15 in April 2023, has since become a prominent player for the club and was instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, where he became the youngest player to participate and score in the tournament.
Yamal’s father and grandmother still reside in Rocafonda, and Yamal often celebrates his goals by making a ‘304’ hand gesture, representing his neighborhood’s postcode. Nasraoui gained fame during the European Championship through his active social media presence and media appearances, frequently showing support for his son.
