Spain boss Robert Moreno has confirmed teenage Barcelona star Ansu Fati was on the preliminary list for the senior national team.
Fati – born in Guinea Bissau – scored and assisted on his first start for the Blaugrana in their 5-2 win over Valencia earlier this month and his level of performance has generated a great level of excitement.
“He has not been selected because I believe it's a special case that has to be dealt with in an open and proper way,” Moreno explained in Friday's news conference.
“I did consider calling him up and he was in the preliminary squad but then there have been complications – he has been injured and that ruled him out, while there are bureaucratic issues.
“But he is someone who we are considering due to his performances.”
The 16-year-old had initially looked set to play for Spain’s Under-17 side in next month’s World Cup in Brazil after the Spanish FA ensured the paperwork was processed, as outlined by El Mundo Deportivo.
That would have meant that the Catalan giants will miss the player for up to five weeks of first-team action, which the club are said to be particularly unhappy about.
It has subsequently been suggested that he will not be called up to the Under-17 side and instead may be promoted to Under-21 or even senior level, due to his early promise.
