Real Madrid players left out of Spain squad for first time
Lamine Yamal has been included in Spain's World Cup squad, which does not include any Real Madrid players, fr the first time ever.
It is the first time in its history of competing at the World Cup that La Roja will not feature any representatives from Madrid, with Dean Huijsen missing out despite making 40 appearances this term. Dani Carvajal is another absentee.
Madrid's El Clasico rival, Barcelona, has eight players in Luis de la Fuente's party; Yamal is expected to be fit again for the tournament, having been sidelined by a hamstring injury since April.
Some reports, however, suggest he may miss the first two games at the World Cup as he continues his recovery.
Yamal has 27 goal involvements in LaLiga this season (16 goals, 11 assists), with no player in the competition getting more assists than him.
His Barcelona team-mate Eric Garcia was a surprise inclusion, with Joan Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres the other Blaugrana players included.
Three Premier League champions have also been selected by De la Fuente, with David Raya, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino all set to join up with the squad fresh from lifting the trophy.
Merino is another player with fitness doubts heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico, as is Nico Williams, but De la Fuente is confident he will have a full roster available for their opener against Cape Verde on 15 June.
Spain will also face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.
Reigning European Championship winners Spain will look to become the fourth nation to simultaneously hold both the Euros and the World Cup, and the first since they themselves did so between 2008 and 2012.
Spain squad:
Unai Simon (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Rodri (Manchester City), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Victor Munoz (Osasuna).
