The Spanish national football team opened its training camp at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas with a tribute to late Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel and a public session before hundreds of supporters, El Periódico and Telemadrid reported.
Hundreds of fans packed the stands and the standing-room areas as the squad took to the pitch.
De Miguel died on November 3 following a cardiac arrest triggered by a heavy challenge during a match against Andorra. Head coach Luis de la Fuente, goalkeeper Unai Simón, and forward Ferran Torres walked onto the pitch carrying a bouquet of flowers and a national team jersey bearing De Miguel’s name and number 9, which they placed in the center circle, according to El Periódico.
Players, coaching staff, and the assembled crowd stood around the center circle to observe a minute of silence for the player known as ‘Demi’, which ended in an ovation, Telemadrid reported. The public observed the minute of silence strictly. Thirteen players from Spain’s under-21 squad joined the session under De la Fuente’s direction to participate in the tribute, which included Real Madrid players Carlos Espí and Thiago Pitarch.
⚫️ Respetuoso minuto de silencio en la Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas en memoria del futbolista Jesús de Miguel. Todo nuestro cariño a sus familiares, amigos y allegados. Siempre en nuestro recuerdo.#VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/pCKDhyARS8
The Royal Spanish Football Federation previously honored De Miguel and the victims of the Urda train crash in a video released last Friday announcing the squad list, as noted by El Periódico.
Following the silence, the crowd shifted to an enthusiastic reception as fans called out for players during opening rondos, with Marc Cucurella and Ferran Torres drawing the loudest demands for attention. At the conclusion of the training session, which lasted barely an hour, the players went over to the stands to sign autographs, sparking another wave of frenzy among fans trying to secure one.
De la Fuente named 27 players for the upcoming fixtures, though only 23 took part in the opening workout, Telemadrid reported. Those absences led the coach to call up Liverpool winger Víctor Muñoz, who did not train because he was scheduled to arrive at the concentration at night.
Those absences prompted the call-up of a fourth goalkeeper, Real Betis player Álvaro Valles, alongside his club teammate Marc Roca and Como central defender Jacobo Ramón as new additions to the camp.
Compared to the previous international window, Atlético de Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios and Rayo Vallecano winger Jorge de Frutos are also new additions, though they have previously played for the national team; De Frutos replaced Real Sociedad player Ander Barrenetxea due to a muscle injury.
Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi trained wearing a protective mask due to a blow to the nose he sustained in late October during a match with his London club.
Spain prepares to face the Czech Republic on Thursday, November 12, in Prague before hosting England on Sunday, November 15, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, El Periódico reported.
