Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has insisted that the national team will always come before club loyalties, after naming a World Cup squad that includes eight Barcelona players and, for the first time, no one from Real Madrid.
The European champions are among the favourites heading into next month’s tournament, with De la Fuente building his 26-man squad heavily around Barcelona’s core. Notable Real Madrid absentees include defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal, as Spain chase a second World Cup title following their triumph in South Africa in 2010.
De la Fuente brushed aside any suggestion that leaving out Real Madrid players could cost him support among their fans. He said his only concern was picking Spanish players who were proud to represent their country, regardless of where they played their club football.
Barcelona’s contingent includes Joan Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Gavi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, while seven players in the squad are based in the Premier League.
Spain open their Group H campaign against Cape Verde before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. However, De la Fuente may take a cautious approach with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, all of whom are recovering from injuries. The manager said he was optimistic all three would be available for the first game, but made clear that Spain’s thinking extended beyond the opener and that they would wait if necessary rather than rush anyone back.
On Yamal in particular, De la Fuente was full of praise, describing the 18-year-old Barcelona winger as thrilled and raring to go, and saying the youngster had a remarkable maturity and understood that this was his moment to shine.
