The father of Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal says he feared for his life after being stabbed.
Mounir Nasraoui was taken to hospital on Wednesday after being attacked in the north of Barcelona.
The 35-year-old was reportedly involved in an argument while walking his dog and, according to Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, suffered multiple stab wounds after a fight broke out.
Spanish police have arrested three people and are fourth person is being detained as well.
“Thank God they have just taken me up to the ward and I am a little better,” Nasraoui told El Chiringuito from his hospital bed.
“We must be calmer, for the good of everyone, for mine and my family’s . I must be calmer because I have no other choice, we must think that justice will do its job and it will surely do so, 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 human being.”
Nasraoui is reported to be in a stable condition and his son, Yamal, visited him earlier this week in hospital. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
A spokesman for the regional Mossos d’Esquadra police force said on Thursday morning: “I can confirm three people have been arrested following the stabbing of a man in the neighbourhood of Rocafonda in Mataro.
“The investigation is still open and officers are still trying to establish the level of implication of those detained.
“More arrests may take place later today. We’re not in a position to offer any more details at this stage about the arrested men’s ages and nationalities.
“What we can say is that the stabbing occurred at 9.10pm in a car park and the arrests took place a couple of hours later and the three people arrested were in custody by 11pm.
“The arrests occurred in the neighbourhood of Rocafonda in Mataro. The victim was taken to hospital in Barcelona.
“There was a previous incident involving the men believed to have been involved in the stabbing, shortly after midday yesterday.
“That incident and the circumstances surrounding the subsequent stabbing and whether the men allegedly involved bumped into each other or the suspects laid in wait for the victim is still under investigation and is an important part of the probe because it will determine the charges the arrested men could face.”
