Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has said that the door is open for Sergio Ramos to return to the La Roja squad after being overlooked for the 2022 World Cup.
Ramos had been tipped to earn a spot in the Spain squad for the competition in Qatar due to his form for Paris Saint-Germain in the first half of the 2022-23 campaign.
However, the 36-year-old was ultimately left out, and Luis Enrique used Manchester City midfielder Rodri as a central defender during the competition, which saw Spain knocked out in the round of 16 by Morocco.
Ramos has made more appearances for La Roja (180) than any player in history, and De la Fuente, who was recently confirmed as Enrique's replacement, has hinted that the centre-back could return to the squad for the start of the national side's Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
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"I count on the youngsters but I am also a fan of the veterans who have done great things. Sergio Busquets is the living history of football. If Sergio Ramos is in good shape, he can come too," he told reporters.
De la Fuente also insisted that he is the right person to lead Spain, having won the European Championship for the national side's Under-19s and Under-21s, in addition to securing a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics.
"I was a professional footballer for 15 years," De la Fuente added. "I have won titles. I have coached at international level in all age categories except the senior one.
"With all my humility and honesty, if there is someone who knows what the future of Spanish football is, it is me. You know who takes the reins of this team.
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"There will be no negotiation about our model. I will try to provide nuances to improve it, interpret its evolution. We will not close our minds to anything.
"I have had a very close relationship with Luis Enrique and I thank him. We have exchanged messages, and he congratulated me.
"You don't have to analyse anything about the World Cup. Luis Enrique's work has been extraordinary, but you can still miss getting a result."
Spain will begin their Euro 2024 qualification campaign against Norway on March 25, while they will also take on Cyprus, Georgia and Scotland in Group A.
Matt Law
