Police in Catalonia have arrested four people after Mounir Nasraoui, the father of the Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, was stabbed in a car park in Rocafonda, near Barcelona.
Nasraoui was taken to a nearby hospital late on Wednesday after being stabbed multiple times, police told the Guardian. He remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
On Thursday afternoon, Nasraoui posted on social media for the first time since the incident, writing: “Thank you all for your encouragement, I’m better now, a big hug to everyone.”
Police said they made three arrests on Wednesday evening and one on Thursday. While they initially said those arrested would face charges of attempted homicide.
On Thursday, officials revealed the investigation remained open and that it was too early to confirm whether charges would be laid.
Police said the stabbing had followed an argument between Nasraoui and several others in Rocafonda.
The Spanish newspaper El País reported that the roots of the altercation traced back to hours earlier, when Nasraoui was sprayed with water from a balcony above as he walked his dog.
On Thursday, several videos circulating on social media appeared to show Nasraoui arguing with several people before local police intervened.
The incident comes one month after Nasraoui, 35, made headlines across Spain as he cheered on his son’s dazzling turn at the recent Euro 2024.
While the 17-year-old was instrumental in helping Spain clinch their record fourth European Championship title, his father was responsible for one of the most viral moments of the tournament, after he posted a long-forgotten photo on social media showing Lionel Messi posing for photos with Lamine Yamal as a baby.
The tournament also thrust the neighbourhood of Rocafonda, located in the Catalan town of Mataró, into the spotlight. As Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history, he celebrated by signalling 304 – the last three digits of the diverse, working-class neighbourhood’s postcode – with his hands.
