De la Fuente Addresses Joan García's Omission, Promises Future Opportunity

Spanish national team head coach Luis de la Fuente has clarified the decision to omit Barcelona's promising goalkeeper, Joan García, from his most recent squad call-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Despite widespread expectation and a strong start to his career at Barcelona, García's name was notably absent, sparking discussions among football enthusiasts.

In a recent press conference, de la Fuente firmly addressed the speculation, stating that national team selections are made purely on merit, irrespective of a player's club affiliation. He directly refuted any suggestions of external pressure influencing his choices.

"If I’d felt pressure, I would have brought him in," de la Fuente declared. "We monitor all the goalkeepers, and Joan could be here now, before, or in the future. And not because he’s at Barça. I want to tell you that players from clubs don’t come here; this is the national team, regardless of the club they come from."

The coach went on to reassure García, indicating that his time to don the national team jersey would undoubtedly arrive. "Let’s not make assumptions about whether 6 or 7 come from one club… Let’s give this importance. Joan’s time will come, for sure."

Interestingly, the current squad features seven players from Barcelona, underscoring the club's significant contribution to the national team setup. De la Fuente's comments, while explaining García's current omission, strongly suggest that the young goalkeeper is very much a part of Spain's long-term vision for its national team.