Spain manager explains decision to drop Pedri and Balde from squad

The Barcelona pair were surprisingly absent from Luis de la Fuente’s squad selection for Spain.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has explained his decision to exclude Barcelona’s Pedri and Alejandro Balde from the latest national squad set to face Cyprus and Georgia. While the squad featured several Barcelona players, the pair’s notable omissions raised questions.

Despite his exceptional performances for Barcelona, Pedri is yet to make an appearance for the Spanish national team under De la Fuente.

The decision to exclude the Barcelona star from the latest squad reflects a desire to give him more rest after returning from a serious injury.

“Pedri is no longer injured, he is playing with his team. I spoke to the players when they were injured. In difficult moments I try to be close to them. When they play, I don’t usually talk,” De la Fuente said.

As for Balde, however, the player’s significant dip in form hasn’t gone unnoticed by the national team.

“Alejandro is just another player. I encourage him to keep working more because he is good for Spanish football.”

Since making his debut for Spain last year, Balde has made a total of seven international appearances. Despite retaining his starting spot at Barcelona, it seems the defender has to work harder to secure a regular place in De la Fuente’s squad.