Nacho Monreal says he’s hoping his good form for Arsenal will see him recalled by Spain.
The Gunners left-back has 16 caps for La Roja but hasn’t featured since an away defeat to South Africa in November 2013, seemingly paying the price for a lack of game time at the Emirates last seaso.
While the 29-year-old accepts Vicente del Bosque has real strength in depth in his position Monreal insists he hasn’t given up hope of at least one more run out for his country.
“I’m very happy with the games that I’ve played,” he told Arsenal Player. “This season I feel very well with a high confidence and I’m playing most games. I feel fit so I’m happy with my game.
“I would like to get back and play for the national team but I know it’s very difficult because there are three or four other players at the moment who play left back and they are younger [than me].
“It’s complicated but I’m very happy because I’m playing really well for Arsenal. I will try to do it and if I play for Spain one more time or more, I will be proud.”
Unfortunately, Del Bosque didn’t name Monreal in his latest 24-man squad as Spain prepare for a Euro 2016 qualifier with Ukraine and a friendly with Holland.
To underline the situation, the 2010 World Cup Winners even dropped Chelsea left-back Cesar Azpilicueta; a player lauded for his performances since arriving in England.
“We are well covered at left-back with Jordi Alba and Bernat,” explained Del Bosque. “We have enough players there and we preferred not to call him [Azpilicueta].
“We rate him very highly, but the same thing also happened at right-back. There are lads who could be called up, but others are blocking their way.”
Santi Cazorla did make Del Bosque’s squad, while right-back Hector Bellerin earned his first call-up to Spain’s under-21s.
The 20-year-old was rightly chuffed, tweeting:
A huge honour for me to be called up for the @sefutbol U21 squad today. Can’t wait to meet up with the squad next week.
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin) March 20, 2015
It must be frustrating for monreal , he’s in the best form of his arsenal career and can’t make the national team and Gibbs walks in to the national team with hardly any game time recently (I’m obviously aware how bad england are compared to Spain)
I wish him well but I don’t think it’s realistic that he will be called up given the other options they have.
Great player, good luck Nacho!
Real shame but I think he will make the squad one day.
Way to go, Hector, congratulations, you deserve your place in the team.
Don’t worry monreal, just keep playing the way you have been playing and your time will definitely come
Shame, but prefer you getting some rest and coming out buzzing each week. Santi too.
Cue the barca DNA hard ons.
Nacho has really been playing well for arsenal of late, unfortunately for him, the depth in his position in the Spanish squad is really huge, and this he has acknowledged himself. What a shame for him!
Del Bosque sticking with the world cup failing faithful. Such a snobbery in the spanish national side
It might be a little difficult for Monreal now, what with Alba, Bernat (who has been brilliant at Bayern), Azpilicueta, and that young left-back from Valencia. He can play CB too, so that’s a big plus. Disappointed for him, but as a Gooner one can’t complain too much that he hasn’t been recalled.
Look at the excitement for Bellerin for making the U21s! Refreshing
Nacho, score a couple of goals like the one in Old Trafford and you will be the number one for Spain.
So we have a 19 y/o Spanish RB (Bellerin) that has just been called up to the under 21 side but is better than every other English RB. We also have a Spanish LB (Monreal) that isn’t able to make the Spanish XI but would most likely walk into the England team with these performances. I mean even Santi isn’t a starter for Spain but would be the crown jewel of England…..being ambitious I could’ve seen arteta make the bloody team! (I know Spain have been shit recently, but I just wanted to show the stupidly good depth they have… Read more »
29 already? Plays like he’s 26 and in his pomp.
Don’t forget msr. arteta, as good as he is, he couldn’t get a sniff for Spain.
I didn’t expect Nacho to be called as he is on the wrong side of his 20s. Also, since even Azpilicueta didn’t make it, Monreal is probably 4th choice.