Real Madrid’s Asencio receives the first call-up, but Barcelona’s Gavi is left out of the Spain team

Luis de la Fuente, the manager of Spain, called up Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio for the first time on Friday for their two-leg Nations League quarterfinal matchup with the Netherlands.

This season, the 22-year-old Real Madrid youth product has appeared in eight Champions League games and 14 La Liga games. After being dropped out of Spain’s victorious squad for Euro 2024, Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez makes a comeback.

After a 14-month hiatus due to an ACL injury, Barcelona midfielder Gavi, who assisted Spain in their 2023 Nations League victory, was anticipated to rejoin the national team; however, De la Fuente has not chosen him.

Additionally excluded was forward Marco Asensio, who has returned to form since joining Aston Villa on loan from Paris St. Germain during the mid-season transfer window, scoring seven goals in eight games.

On Thursday, Spain travels to play Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands; on March 23, they play the second leg at home.

The Spain Squad

Goalkeepers: Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), and David Raya (Arsenal).

Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Inigo Martinez (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Raul Asencio (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), and Marc Cucurella (Chelsea) are the defenders.

Midfielders: Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Marc Casado (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), and Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad).

Alvaro Morata (Galatasaray), Bryan Zaragoza (Osasuna), Samuel Aghehowa (Porto), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Ferran Yamal (Barcelona), Ferran Williams (Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ayoze Perez (Villarreal), and Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad) are the forwards.