Mikel Oyarzabal on Barcelona links and Lamine Yamal support

Mikel Oyarzabal has addressed the speculation linking him with Barcelona while with Spain at the World Cup. The 29-year-old Real Sociedad captain says he remains a pillar of the national side and is drawing on his experience to navigate transfer talk and the rise of teenager Lamine Yamal.

Oyarzabal arrives off a 2025–2026 season in which he scored 18 goals and provided four assists in 40 appearances. On the Barcelona links he said: "If people are talking about me, it's because they think I'm doing things right, but I don't pay much attention to it or waste time on those things.

Right now, I'm focused here, on this World Cup, on trying to help the team in any way I can, in the upcoming matches, whether I'm playing or not, trying to help the team and make sure things go well for the group, which is what matters." Questions over his future sit alongside a long history at Real Sociedad — 437 appearances, 133 goals and two Copa del Rey titles — and he has no wish to force a move while on international duty.

Spain, Barcelona

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