The Canarian midfielder will sit out Spain’s next international window during November as his coach opts to rotate the squad for the upcoming qualifiers.
With Isco giving Pedri the green light to stay with his club, the Barcelona talent stands out as the notable omission from Spain’s roster for the November fixtures against Cyprus and Georgia. Those two games cap a set of qualifiers that already look favorable for La Roja, with Luis de la Fuente guiding the team toward a place in the next European Championship. The absence of Kepa Arrizabalaga is unsurprising after the Real Madrid goalkeeper picked up an late-minute injury during the warm-up prior to the match against SC Braga on Wednesday.
Why isn’t Pedri included for the November call-up?
Spain recently defeated Scotland and Norway in their two preceding qualifiers, securing six more points as they push for top spot in Group A. The path is clear for a strong finish, and Pedri, though back from injury and fit for club duty, is not essential to the plan for the next matches. He has already returned to action for Barcelona, featuring against Real Sociedad the previous weekend and playing for Barcelona in their European tie against Shakhtar Donetsk in the midweek before the November window.
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Reports from AS had suggested Pedri would not be called up due to a perceived lack of rhythm for the international stage, a concern that the coaching staff may weigh as they finalize the Euro squad. Even if he avoids this trip, the door remains open for a potential late return as the season progresses and his form stabilizes. The goal for Pedri is to recapture his best level and be in contention for the final list when the national team makes its most critical selections later in the campaign.
De la Fuente’s remarks
De la Fuente explained that Pedri is not dealing with an injury, and his club involvement is the reason for his absence this time. He noted that discussions with players usually occur when there is an injury or when they are unavailable for selection, whereas with players who are actively competing, the approach is different. Pedri has been identified as a top-tier talent known to the national team staff, and De la Fuente emphasized that the door remains wide open for him to return when the timing aligns. This message was delivered at the press briefing on Friday, November 10, underscoring a transparent approach to selection and the long view the coach maintains for the squad.