Spain’s national team is gearing up for the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinals against the Netherlands, with head coach Luis de la Fuente unveiling the roster of players who will represent the country in two crucial matches this March.
During a press conference following the announcement, de la Fuente explained his selections and took the opportunity to single out one of his players as the best in the world in his position. That player is Pedri, who, according to de la Fuente, stands unmatched in his position.
“Simplifying, I think we have the chance to rely on the best players in the world in many positions. And Pedri, right now, is at a point of maturity, performance, and game interpretation like never before,” de la Fuente said. “I still believe we haven’t seen the best Pedri we’re going to see. He has room to grow, and we’re going to witness and enjoy it,” he added.
The coach emphasized Pedri’s importance to the team. “He gives us a lot of versatility. He can play in more advanced roles, closer to the area, but at his club, he plays more as a number eight, deeper, and he does it exceptionally well. He allows us to adjust our game thanks to his talent”. De la Fuente concluded with a bold declaration: “For me, he’s the best player in the world in his position, and we’re going to enjoy and value him”.
Pedri looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica. (Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Pedri’s pick for the greatest player
While his coach sees him as the best, Pedri himself has a clear opinion about the greatest player of all time. During a Twitch stream with Spanish personality Ibai Llanos, Pedri named Lionel Messi as his pick for the GOAT.
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“I think he’s the best in history,” Pedri admitted. “I was lucky enough to play alongside him, and it was crazy. Just watching him train made me think, ‘What am I doing here with him?’”
The 22-year-old midfielder also reminisced about the first time he met Messi. “I’ll always remember the first day. I walked into the locker room, and I froze,” Pedri recalled. “It wasn’t just seeing him and asking for a photo. It was that I was about to train with him. Imagine being a 17-year-old kid from Las Palmas, and the first person you see is Messi. It’s overwhelming”.
Spain’s squad for the Nations League
Here’s the roster de la Fuente has chosen to face the Netherlands:
GoalkeepersDavid Raya (Arsenal)Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao)Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)DefendersPedro Porro (Tottenham)Óscar Mingueza (Celta de Vigo)Robin Le Normand (Atlético Madrid)Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)Iñigo Martínez (Barcelona)Raúl Asencio (Real Madrid)Grimaldo (Benfica)Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)MidfieldersMartín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)Marc Casadó (Barcelona)Fabián Ruiz (PSG)Mikel Merino (Arsenal)Álex Baena (Villarreal)Pedri (Barcelona)ForwardsLamine Yamal (Barcelona)Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)Ferrán Torres (Barcelona)Yeremy (Villarreal)Dani Olmo (Barcelona)Ayoze Pérez (Villarreal)Álvaro Morata (Galatasaray)Bryan Zaragoza (Osasuna)Samu (Porto)Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
The squad notably excludes several high-profile players, such as Isco, Gayá, Gavi, Alejandro Baldé, Fermín Lopez, and Eric Garcia. Despite these omissions, de la Fuente appears confident in the group he’s assembled to lead Spain in the crucial Nations League showdown.