Lamine Yamal’s dad Mounir Nasraoui, 35, gives first interview in tell-all from his hospital bed as he recovers from a brutal stabbing in a car park
Lamine Yamal’s father has given his first interview since he was the victim of a brutal stabbing in his hometown of Mataro.
Mounir Nasraoui, 35, was rushed to hospital on Wednesday afternoon after being attacked in the north of Barcelona.
According to La Vanguardia, he had an argument with people in the neighborhood while walking his dog. Later that day, a fight broke out in which Nasraoui suffered multiple stab wounds.
Three people have now been arrested by Spanish police on suspicion of attempted murder. Police have confirmed that a fourth person has been arrested.
Speaking from his hospital bed to the Spanish programme El Chiringuito, Nasraoui spoke candidly about his fear immediately after the attack.
Mounir Nasraoui broke his silence from the hospital as he recovers from being stabbed multiple times
Footage has emerged of Nasraoui (yellow Barcelona shirt) being led away after an apparent confrontation with members of the community in the hours leading up to the fight
“Luckily, they just took me to the ward and I’m feeling a little better,” he said. “We have to be calmer, for the good of everyone, for my own good and that of my family.
‘I have to be calmer because I have no other choice, we have to think that justice will do its work and it will do it, that is the most important thing. Thank God, who is very great, everything has a solution.
‘Of course I was afraid. I saw myself between life and death, afraid like any other person.’
Nasraoui’s superstar son Yamal was spotted leaving the hospital where he is recovering on Thursday, having reported for training with his club that morning.
Yamal, who was obviously concerned about his father’s condition, was seen leaving the facility in Badalona, near Barcelona.
Nasraoui remains in stable condition in hospital. The investigation into the incident, which occurred at 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday, is reportedly ongoing. Police did confirm that they had arrested three men who were being questioned.
A spokesman for the Mossos d’Esquadra regional police said on Thursday morning: ‘I can confirm that three people have been arrested after the stabbing of a man in the Rocafonda district of Mataro.
The investigation is ongoing and officers are still trying to determine the extent to which those arrested were involved.
It is reported that Yamal’s father has a ‘long history’ with the attackers
Nasraoui has been his son’s biggest supporter for years and was present when the 17-year-old Yamal secured the European championship title with Spain
‘There may be further arrests later today. We are unable to provide further details on the age and nationality of the arrested men at this time.
“What we can say is that the stabbing took place at 9:10 p.m. in a parking lot and the arrests took place a few hours later. The three arrested people were in custody at 11 p.m.
‘The arrests took place in the Rocafonda district of Mataro. The victim was taken to hospital in Barcelona.
‘There was an earlier incident shortly after noon yesterday with the men who were probably involved in the stabbing.
“That incident and the circumstances surrounding the subsequent stabbing and whether the men allegedly involved collided or whether the suspects were lying in wait for the victim are still under investigation. It is an important part of the investigation because it will determine what charges the arrested men could face.”
Police were reportedly alerted by a man described locally as Nasraoui’s best friend, following the stabbing on Frank Marshall Street.
A reliable police source said on Thursday: “The stab wounds sustained by the victim did not damage any major organs and his life is not in danger.”
Lamine Yamal was seen in a car leaving a hospital near Barcelona, where his father Mounir Nasraoui is currently recovering
According to local reports, a fourth man is still being sought by police.
Nasraoui was admitted to intensive care in Barcelona, but he has since confirmed that he has been transferred to a normal ward.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta also visited the Barcelona winger’s father in hospital on Wednesday evening following the stabbing.
The 35-year-old gave an update on his condition earlier in the day on Thursday in a social post, in which he also thanked everyone for their support.
“Thank you all for your encouragement, I’m doing better now,” he wrote on Instagram. “A big hug to everyone.”
Nasraoui has been his son’s biggest supporter for years and was there when the 17-year-old Yamal won the European Championship title with Spain, where they beat England in the final.
Yamal was Spain’s star player at the tournament, with his father previously stating that the rising superstar could be “bigger than [Lionel] ‘Messi.’
Lamine Yamal’s father Mounir Nasraoui has posted a thank you message to his fans on his Instagram story
Nasraoui lives in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataro, where Yamal grew up. He still honors the neighborhood with his “304” celebration, which refers to the neighborhood’s postcode.
The 35-year-old father is originally from Morocco but moved to Spain at the age of nine, where he later met Yamal’s mother Sheila Ebana. The couple had their son, a football prodigy, in 2007.