Luis de la Fuente, Spanish coach, had to answer more than a dozen questions this morning, almost endure, about the Brahim case after making public the list for the friendly matches against Colombia, in London next Friday, and Brazil, in the Bernabéu on Tuesday, March 26. The Real Madrid winger has decided to play for Morocco and this has raised a huge dust storm in the capital that has hit the coach for not having called him up earlier. Beyond this matter, De la Fuente had time to talk about Pedri, now injured but whom he is willing to wait for the Euro Cup, and Pau Cubarsí, of whom he says he is not surprised by his current level at Barça and predicts a great future.
“All of us who have seen Pau play know the quality he has. He does not surprise us as much as he may have surprised public opinion. He does not surprise us with anything he does and what he can do. He has great potential. We do not look at the identity card but at the performance, that is why it is here,” he explained. Barça fears that the player could be in the Euro Cup and the Games, a fear that De la Fuente has not softened. “The only interest that moves us is sports. We try to bring the best to win. Now Pau Cubarsí is in a great moment and gives us great hope for the present and future. “We want to count on him for a long career,” he explained without ruling out the double.
Pedri's injury is undoubtedly one of De la Fuente's biggest headaches, who once again praised the Canary Islander. “I have spoken with Pedri. Because it is when he is injured that you have to talk to them. We always have to wait for Pedri because he is a great footballer, he wants to play with us and he identifies with our idea. You have to be close and help him. He now has to live that unpleasant part. I hope he recovers soon and I hope we can have the doubt of calling him up in the summer. He is going to bring a lot of joy to Spanish football. I have been with him at the Olympic Games. “I have seen his behavior and involvement and I want to meet him again,” he summarized.
Most of his speech was focused on defending his position in the Brahim case, about which he said that it was the player who made the decision to play for Morocco before the pre-listing that he made public on March 1. “The decision is made by him before the pre-list on March 1. When a player wants to be here, he is there. If he doesn't want to be there, he accepts it naturally. I have a lot of affection for Brahim. I am the one who has selected him the most times, but he has accepted another proposal and I think it is fantastic.
The coach had to explain that if he has not called him for this call it is because “it was impossible to bring him. On March 1st I give a pre-list in which he is. There is a document dated March 9 by which he renounces playing for Spain. We can't bring it. "He has decided to play for Morocco."
In this sense, De la Fuente wanted to highlight those players who, being able to play with other teams, have chosen to play with Spain. “I think it is more important to value those who have chosen to play with us. Like Laporte, Le Normand, Lamine Yamal and 100 others. One is too old to make decisions. With all my love,” he concluded.
