Spanish head coach, Luis de la Fuente has called up Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio for the first time ahead of the Nations League quarterfinals encounter against the Netherlands in a squad that also includes Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal.
However Spain veteran and Real Betis midfielder Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, was omitted.
Asencio, 22 has established himself as a crucial member of Carlo Ancelloti’s Madrid this season having filled in for the injured Éder Militão since Asencio played every minute of Madrid’s Champions League round-of-16 tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday with R. Madrid advanced to the quarter finals following a controversial 4-1 win on penalties.
De la Fuente praised the 22-year-old, who was called up directly to the senior national team without ever having played in Spain’s youth ranks.”He is having a great season and he is an example of a player who can skip ahead in the process,” De la Fuente said in a Friday news conference.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also praised Asencio for earning the call-up, saying “He has been playing really well for this, we are celebrating, and hopefully this will be the beginning of many more call-ups for him.” He also recalled Barcelona defender Íñigo Martínez, for the first time in 2 ½ years, a day after the player agreed to a contract extension with his club through 2026.
Spain, who are the defending champions of the Nations League title, play the Dutch in Rotterdam on March 20 and then again in Valencia three days later.
De la Fuente is without defenders Aymeric Laporte and Dani Vivian due to injury. Goalkeeper Unai Simón, returns after an injury, replacing Robert Sánchez, who has been out of the squad since winning Euro 2024 in Berlin last June, as well as defender Le Normand and forward Ferran Torres.
Complete Team:
Goalkeepers: David Raya (Arsenal), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad).Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Óscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Íñigo Martínez (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Raúl Asencio (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedri González (Barcelona), Marc Casadó (Barcelona).
Forwards: Álvaro Morata (Galatasaray), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yéremi Pino (Villarreal), Ayoze Pérez (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Bryan Zaragoza (Osasuna).
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