Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has been left out of the Spain national team squad by head coach Luis Enrique for March international friendlies. Brentford custodian David Raya has taken his place in the squad instead.
Despite enjoying a promising start to 2022, and winning his first-ever Premier League Player of the Month award in January, the 31-year-old has been left out of the Spain national team squad for the friendlies against Albania and Iceland scheduled to be held on March 26 and 29, respectively.
De Gea, who earlier surpassed Peter Schmeichel’s record of clean sheets (128) for United, is not the only high-profile exclusion, with Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also failing to make the squad. Instead, Spain head coach Luis Enrique has decided to select Unai Simon (Athletic Club) – usually his go-to pick in between the posts – and back him up with Premier League pair Raya and Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Across the squad, Barcelona are the best-represented club side, with five of their players making the squad. Joining teenagers Pedri and Gavi are attacker Ferran Torres, centre-back Eric Garcia, and veteran left-back Jordi Alba. Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal is also on the roster, albeit he is the only Galactico on it at present.
Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta lead the Premier League contingent that, apart from Sanchez and Raya, also includes Manchester City duo Aymeric Laporte and Rodri, along with Leeds United’s Diego Llorente.
The 23-man squad is rounded up by several La Liga stalwarts and Alvaro Morata, currently playing at Juventus. However, Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno has been left out by Enrique, as have Celta Vigo’s in-form frontman Iago Aspas and Barcelona midfield veteran Sergio Busquets.
