Spain leave Barcelona starlet out of final squad

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has left teenage Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi out of his final squad for Euro 2024.

The 17-year-old was one of three players omitted from the 29-strong provisional squad, along with Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente and Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia, who has been linked with a move to West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen in recent weeks.

Cubarsi burst onto the scene in the second half of the season, making 19 La Liga appearances, the first coming on January 21, the day before his 17th birthday.

He also started both legs of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to PSG while he appeared off the bench in both of Spain’s international friendlies in March and set-up a goal in Wednesday’s 5-0 friendly win over Andorra.

OFFICIAL: Spain have confirmed their final 26-man squad for Euro 2024. 🇪🇸#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/8qxBtSzGj1

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 7, 2024

Former Newcastle and Leicester striker Ayoze Perez, now with Real Betis, who scored the opening goal on his international debut on Wednesday, has made the cut and will travel to Germany.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella and Arsenal’s on-loan goalkeeper David Raya are the only current Premier League players to make the final 26.

Spain will face Northern Ireland on Saturday in their final warm-up match before before they begin their Group B campaign on June 15 against Croatia.

They will also face defending champions Italy and Albania in the group stage.

Spain squad

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal – on loan from Brentford).

Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Rodrigo (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona).

Forwards: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).

🥹 Dad, friend, grandson, brother, husband… I’ve got something important to tell you: YOU’RE GOING TO BE AT #EURO2024.

This is Spain’s final squad list of players called up for @EURO2024 and there is no better narrator for this video than a WINNER: @RafaelNadal.#VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/wydxoc6Izh

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 7, 2024