The national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, has announced the list of 25 called-up players for the Spanish national team for the matches against Denmark (12/10) and Serbia (15/10), corresponding to matchdays three and four of the UEFA Nations League 24/25. It is worth noting that 'La Roja' arrives at this date as second in their group, having secured a goalless draw against Serbia in the first matchday and a convincing 1-4 victory over Switzerland in the second.
Now, concerning players from FC Barcelona, it is relevant to mention that alongside Real Sociedad, the Catalan team contributes the highest number of players to the national team (four). In this call-up, Pedri González and Lamine Yamal will represent the Blaugrana. Both players are having a stellar season with the Catalan club and are regulars in Luis de la Fuente's selections, being key pieces in the starting eleven.
The other two called-up players from the Barcelona squad are Pau Cubarsí, who returns to the national team after not being called up for the Euro in Germany and the September FIFA window, and Ferran Torres. Although the Valencian is usually a regular in De la Fuente's selections, his inclusion this time may be intriguing due to his current performance with the Catalan team.
Barcelona Players Left Out of 'La Roja' Squad for this International Break
It is also important to mention that three players from FC Barcelona were left out of the squad: Alejandro Balde, who will have to wait for another opportunity to become the left-back of the national team due to competition in that position; Iñigo Martínez, despite his good form at Barça, will have to wait for another chance in defense as De la Fuente has opted to strengthen the defensive line with other players; and Marc Casadó, who will also have to wait for his first call-up to 'La Roja'.
Absences in this Luis de la Fuente Call-Up
In general terms, Luis de la Fuente's call-up is affected by some key absences in different areas of the field. Due to injury, the usual goalkeeper Unai Simón (scapholunate instability) will not be available, along with Robin Le Normand (cranioencephalic trauma with subdural hematoma) in defense, and Rodri Hernández (ligament injury in his right knee) and Dani Olmo (right thigh biceps) in the midfield.
On the other hand, the return of forward Álvaro Morata stands out as the main novelty. Additionally, the inclusion of midfielder Alejandro Baena, along with the absence of players compared to the previous call-up. In terms of defense, besides the return of Pau Cubarsí, Pedro Porro has also managed to secure a place on the list.
The players called up by Santi Denia for the Spanish U-21 national team
On another note, the call-up for the U-21 national team led by Santi Denia has also been announced, with a selection of 24 players to face the two crucial matches in the final phase of qualification for the 2025 European Championship in Slovakia. 'La Rojita' will face Kazakhstan next Thursday, October 10, at the Municipal Stadium in La Línea de la Concepción, and five days later, on Tuesday, October 15, they will host Malta at the Nuevo Mirador Stadium in Algeciras.
Among the players called up by Santi Denia, two standout names in the Barcelona context are Marc Casadó, who was close to making the senior national team call-up but was ultimately selected for this squad. The Albacete-born coach appreciated his remarkable season with the Barcelona team. The other player called up is Pablo Torre, the talented midfielder from Cantabria, who has recently started to play a more prominent role in the plans of Hansi Flick, making the most of the opportunities given to him by the German coach to get into action.