Spain boss De la Fuente speaks on decision to leave Barcelona star out of latest squad | OneFootball

Spanish national team head coach Luis de la Fuente has this week provided an insight into the decision-making process which ultimately culminated in Iñigo Martínez being left out of his latest squad.

Defender Iñigo, for his part, is of course fresh off a stellar individual campaign in 2024/25.

Establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet of new Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, the former Athletic Club standout excelled on both sides of the ball.

His leadership qualities have also long been hailed behind the scenes in Catalunya’s capital, making Iñigo a crucial figure in the dressing room and on the pitch alike.

It therefore came as something of a surprise when the 33-year-old was not included in Spain’s latest national team squad.

La Roja are primed to lock horns with France in a highly-anticipated Nations League clash later this week, with Luis de la Fuente having opted to call upon the likes of Pau Cubarsí, Dean Huijsen and Dani Vivian instead.

Speaking during an exchange with the media this week, Iñigo’s name was therefore put to Spain’s headmaster himself.

And De la Fuente went on to defend his decision to leave the Barca standout at home, in explaining:

“The criterion we use here is purely football-based. We choose what we see as the best to compete against our opponents in the context we face. We only focus on the players who are able to compete in the best conditions.”

Conor Laird – GSFN