The Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente has called Dani Carvajal one of the players who give him great assurance, with the aim of the veteran player being included in his World Cup team this summer. The 34-year-old right-back is one of the key players in La Roja’s 2024 campaign who has battled injuries.
Apart from Carvajal, who has yet to start since returning from a knee problem that kept him out until January, Mikel Merino is recovering from surgery, while Marc Cucurella is the latest drop due to injury. Nico Williams has struggled with a sports hernia for much of the season as well, while Samu Aghehowa has been ruled out with a serious injury.
De la Fuente on Carvajal – ‘We know what Dani is like’
Speaking after Thursday’s Nations League draw, de la Fuente was asked about his World Cup thoughts on Carvajal, who has made headlines this week after voicing his frustrations with manager Alvaro Arbeloa over his minutes.
“Whether he plays or not, that’s another story I don’t like. But Dani is a sure thing; we know what he’s like and, if he’s meant to be there, he’ll be there. Now what’s needed is for him to get playing time and regain his confidence,” he told Cadena SER.
“If Dani is healthy, he is one of the players who gives me great confidence. Now that does not mean that even if he is healthy, he must come because there may be other players in better form.”
Mikel Merino injury ‘no indications’
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has also been ruled out with a stress fracture in his foot. There is uncertainty as to when he will return.
“We have time to get players with muscle injuries back to Finalissima condition. Unfortunately, the injury will happen in April or May.”
“Mikel has an injury that has not been referred to. We hope, as well as him, but we don’t know, the doctors don’t know how long it will take, whether he will return in March, April, May. We also had injuries to Barrios, Cucurella, and Fabian, all of whom are experiencing discomfort. This year seems to be very difficult.”
De la Fuente on Joan Garcia and the Spanish goalkeeper
In recent months there has been increasing talk of Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia joining the Spanish side, but Alex Remiro has also responded with good form.
“Am I clear about the goalkeepers? Me, I don’t know about you. We are very lucky. We have six Spanish goalkeepers among the top ten in the world. We will check the situation at any time. Many people have just discovered him [Joan Garcia]but he played for me in the Under 21 team.”
Flick: “We didn’t play well in the first half. We didn’t play as a team, the gaps were too big, we didn’t press as we wanted. The second was good and we have another game. We can win 2-0 in each half.”
– barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 12, 2026
Less than an hour earlier, Garcia played a part in Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing against Atletico Madrid, where a mistake gave Los Colchoneros the lead. De la Fuente said he had not seen the incident, but ‘anyone can make a mistake’.
