Luis Enrique announces Spain squad for Nations League Finals

Luis Enrique hands teenage Barcelona star Gavi a surprise call up to the Spain squad and recalls in-form Marcos Alonso as he announces group for next week’s Nations League Finals

  • Luis Enrique announced his team for the Nations League Final Four tournament
  • Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi has been handed a surprise call up
  • Villarreal’s 18-year-old forward Yeremy Pino is another uncapped name included
  • Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso has been handed a recall after fine start to the season
  • Atletico Madrid’s utility man Marcos Llorente has been included as a forward 

Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi has been handed a surprise call up by Spain coach Luis Enrique for the Nations League Final Four tournament in Italy next week.

Gavi, who has only featured for Spain at junior levels previously and turned 17 in August, has made just two LaLiga starts for the Catalans this term. 

However, he has done enough across his six appearances in all competitions to impress Enrique and earn a spot in the 23-man squad.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi has been handed a surprise call up by Spain coach Luis Enrique

‘For me it would be a risk to pick a youngster who you have doubts about if they can compete at the level, but this with Gavi isn’t the case,’ Enrique said.

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‘Maybe it’s too soon for a call-up, but maybe he’ll start against Italy – it all depends on what I see in training. What I’ve seen so far, I like. I’ve known him for a long time and we’ll see how he adapts to the national team.’

Manager Enrique has announced his Spain squad for next week’s Nations League Finals 

Villarreal’s 18-year-old forward Yeremy Pino is another uncapped name included by Enrique

Villarreal’s 18-year-old forward Yeremy Pino is another uncapped name included by Enrique – who is without regulars Alvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno, Thiago Alcantara and Sergio Ramos through injury.

The two teenagers are joined by fellow Barca youngsters Pedri, who has recovered from a thigh injury, and Eric Garcia in a squad that includes four from the Camp Nou side despite their poor start to the season.

Once again there are no Real Madrid players included despite them being top of LaLiga.

While Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso’s fine start to the season has been rewarded with a recall

Elsewhere, Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso’s fine start to the season has been rewarded with a recall and he is in line to add to his three caps which all came in 2018.

Atletico Madrid utility man Marcos Llorente is included as a forward despite usually playing fullback for his country, while David de Gea will be hoping his stellar start to the campaign will earn him a spot in the XI once again.

Spain face hosts Italy in Milan next Wednesday for a place in the final on October 10. Belgium face France on Thursday in the other semi-final.

SPAIN SQUAD IN FULL 

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David De Gea (Man Utd), Robert Sanchez (Brighton).

Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Pedro Porro (Sporting Lisbon), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Man City), Inigo Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Sergio Reguillon (Tottenham), Marcos Alonso (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodrigo (Man City), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Gavi (Barcelona).

Forwards: Ferran Torres (Man City), Pablo Sarabia (Sporting Lisbon), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Pablo Fornals (West Ham), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal). (Reporting by Joseph Walker Editing by Robert Birsel and Toby Davis)




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