Spain faces its first commitments in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers amid an unexpectedly tense atmosphere. Luis de la Fuente's squad list, published just a few days ago, has set off the alarm in the blaugrana environment. In Barça's locker room, Pedri and Gavi have led a sense of unease that threatens to affect the training camp.
The two young leaders of the culé team believe that the coach has not been fair with his draft. The problem is not the presence of seven blaugrana players, but rather the absence of two other key footballers. From the Las Rozas Sports City, they assure that a direct conversation with the coach from La Rioja will be proposed.
Two absences that surprise at Can Barça
The official list includes names such as Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri. Gavi was also in the plans, although he was ultimately left out due to discomfort in the knee he injured months ago. However, the tension arose from the exclusion of two players who, in the culé locker room, are considered undisputed.
The first absence that sparked controversy is Joan García, Barça's goalkeeper who has started the season in outstanding form. His performance against Rayo Vallecano confirmed him as one of the main protagonists of this start to the league season. Not being included in the squad has been received as an injustice that is hard to understand.
The second case is Alejandro Balde, who returned from vacation in impeccable physical and footballing condition. The left-back has been one of the standouts in Hansi Flick's system, providing depth and defensive solidity. His absence from Spain's squad has surprised both his teammates and the national press.
Pedri and Gavi demand explanations
The young captains of Barça have not hidden their discomfort and believe that De la Fuente's criteria do not reflect the sporting reality. Pedri believes that both Joan García and Balde should have been regulars in this squad. Gavi, despite not being available due to injury, shares the view that this is an obvious mistake.
Sources close to the training camp assure that both footballers plan to address the issue face to face with the coach. Their intention is not to create controversy, but rather to convey that they feel Barça has been unfairly treated.
Matches of maximum demand
Spain begins this qualifying phase with two highly significant matches. On September 4, it will face Bulgaria, while on the 7th it will play against Türkiye, with the added attraction of Arda Güler as a rival. De la Fuente has opted for a mix of youth and experience, introducing surprises such as Jorge de Frutos and Aleix García.
The problem is that, at Barça, they believe those surprises have come at the expense of footballers who deserved it much more. That sense of injustice has taken hold in a locker room that feels undervalued. The players do not hesitate to publicly show their pride in wearing the national team jersey, but they demand coherence in the decisions.
Joan García and Alejandro Balde are the two big omissions from this squad, and that has fueled tempers. For Barça, these are two players who have more than proven they are at the level of the national team. Their absence has caused anger that will hardly dissipate in the coming days.
Pedri and Gavi have made their position clear: they will demand explanations from Luis de la Fuente during the training camp. The culé locker room is exploding and doesn't intend to allow Joan García and Balde to be left out again without reason.