Almost four years after playing his last game against the Faroe Islands, Iago Aspas returns to the Spanish team. The light blue striker and current holder of the Zarra Trophy has been summoned by Luis de la Fuente for the double qualifying commitment for the European Championship in Germany 2024 that the national team will play on March 25 and 28 against Norway and Scotland. “I never lost hope or threw in the towel,” the Celta gunner confessed happily, who hopes this summons is the first of many: “I want to show the new coach that I deserve to have minutes”. Aspas never lost hope of returning to the national team and the arrival of Luis de la Fuente has opened the door for him on the eve of the next Euro Cup that Luis Enrique closed tightly on him. “Hope is the last thing you lose. He had not gone for a long time and other times he had more hope, but one is always excited to return ”, pointed out the Celtic gunner, who received the news of his call-up at the start of training by Juan Carlos Calero.
The four-time winner of the Zarra Trophy evaded assessing whether his prolonged absence from the national team was fair, but made it clear that he has never stopped fighting to return: “If it was unfair or not is something I can’t decide, but throw in the towel no way. Whenever I was asked after games or in any other interview I always wanted to return, whether it was at 30 or now at 35. I have always tried to do things well on the pitch and green is rewarding. I have had an opportunity and perhaps there will be many more”, said the sky-blue striker, who has welcomed this new appointment with La Roja with the illusion of the first day. “All the calls suit me well and I assume this one with the utmost enthusiasm and very high expectations”, he pointed out.
The Celta star feels like the same footballer he was when Julen Lopetegui called him up for the first time in 2016. “Now I have more experience, but I’m the same type of footballer I was four or five seasons ago. The experience and the games give you a little more ground, but I’m still the same type of player, ”he assured. The celestial gunner wants to show that he is here to stay and help La Roja qualify for their next big international event. “I want to show the coach that I deserve a place among the 26, that I deserve minutes. Now there is a new coach who is rewarding teammates that the other coach did not reward and I am going to try to show it on the field of play”, he related.
Aspas separated his situation from that of Sergio Ramos, whom Luis de la Fuente called a few weeks ago to inform him that he would not return to the national team. “Nobody called me or said anything to me. It didn’t taste of anything. I knew the coach from seeing him in Las Rozas when I was lucky enough to be called up with the senior team and he directed the under 21s, but I don’t know him personally nor have I spoken to him. Nobody called me a fairy, so I have always had the illusion intact, ”he pointed out.
Iago Aspas, who at the end of the training session received a call from his wife and mother to congratulate him, He was especially excited about the fact that his children can see him wear the Red jacket. “I am very excited, especially for the eldest, who already realizes everything. I remember when the World Cup list was [de Catar] and the kid was nervous. Now I can go back and he can watch the game, ”he commented.
The Celtic star finally referred to Gabri Veiga, who for the moment will have to settle for the sub 21. “We had hopes but at least he is lucky to go with the sub 21. He has a promising future and perhaps in the next call he can be in. If he keeps doing just as well, he will be rewarded,” he predicted.
those summoned
⚽ Goalkeepers
- Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
- robert sanchez (Brighton)
- David Raya (Brentford)
⚽ Defenses
- Dani Carvajal (R. Madrid)
- Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
- Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
- Nacho Fernandez (R.Madrid)
- inigo martinez (Athletic )
- David Garcia (Health)
- Jose Luis Gaya (Valencia)
- Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
⚽ Media
- Rodri Hernandez (Manchester City)
- Gavi (Barcelona)
- Martín Zubimendi (Real society)
- Daniel Ceballos (Real Madrid)
- Mikel Merino (Real society)
- Fabian Ruiz (PSG)
- Pedri (Barcelona)
⚽ Forwards
- Nico Williams (Athletic)
- Alvaro Morata (Atlético)
- Dani Olmo (Leipzig)
- Bryan Gil (Sevilla)
- Mikel Oyarzabal (R. Society)
- Iago Aspas (Celta )
- Joselu Mato (Espanyol)
- Gerard Moreno (Villarreal)
