Four people have been arrested following a knife attack on the father of teenage Spanish football sensation Lamine Yamal in Catalonia, local police told AFP Thursday.
The attack occurred at 1910 GMT on Wednesday at a car park in the Catalan town of Mataro, some 30 kilometers from Barcelona, in the Rocafonda neighborhood where Lamine Yamal lives, according to a spokesman for the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra.
Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, was stabbed multiple times, according to the police, and is being treated at Can Ruti hospital. AFP was unable to reach him for comment.
According to a family source, Nasraoui is now “out of danger” and “remains under observation” but in “stable” condition.
When asked about the events and the victim’s possible hospital release date, the source declined to comment further.
Three persons were arrested Wednesday night and were being questioned at Mataro police station, while a fourth was taken into custody at 0900 GMT on Thursday morning.
According to the police, investigators must question the victim and witnesses “as soon as possible” in order to determine the circumstances of the incident.
According to Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, the event occurred during an argument in the street with some males who approached him while he was walking his dog and then returned to abuse him.
Yamal made his Barcelona debut at the age of 15 in April 2023 and quickly rose to prominence last season, becoming an important player for the Catalan giants.
The 18-year-old Spanish winger was instrumental in his country’s record-breaking fourth Euro 2024 victory, becoming the youngest player and scorer in the competition’s history.
Yamal’s father and grandmother still live in Rocafonda, and he likes to celebrate goals by making the ‘304’ sign with his hands, which refers to the postcode of his neighbourhood.
Nasraoui rose to prominence during the European Championship due to his social media presence and media appearances, where he constantly posted content expressing his support for his son.