In a shocking turn of events, Mounir Nasraoui, father of 17-year-old Spanish football sensation Lamine Yamal, has been hospitalized following a violent attack in Mataró, Spain, where Yamal grew up.
Although Nasraoui was initially in serious condition, he is now reported to be stable at a Barcelona hospital.
Reports suggest that the attack may be linked to an earlier altercation. El Pais newspaper states that Nasraoui had an argument with a group of individuals while walking his dog earlier in the day. Hours later, the same group allegedly approached him in a car park and stabbed him "multiple times."
Catalan police have arrested at least three people in connection with the attack, as confirmed by AFP news agency, however the motivation behind the attack remains unclear.
This shocking event comes just weeks after Lamine Yamal's stellar performance at Euro 2024, where he was named Young Player of the Tournament. The talented winger played a crucial role in Spain's victory over England in the final, setting up Nico Williams for the opening goal in their 2-1 win.
Updates on Mounir Nasraoui's condition and the ongoing investigation are expected in the coming days.
* The BBC contributed to this report.
