Luis Enrique's previous comments on David de Gea might just explain why he's been omitted from Spain's provisional World Cup squad.
Enrique has elected to name 55 players in a list submitted to FIFA, before whittling it down to 26 players for the showpiece in Qatar.
Five goalkeepers have been chosen in the initial squad and yet according to AS, Manchester United shotstopper De Gea is not one of them.
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Brentford's David Raya, Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon and Brighton's Robert Sanchez are set to be his three goalkeepers of choice, with Kepa Arrizabalaga and David Soria of Getafe serving as back-ups.
De Gea has not started a game for La Roja since he made a costly mistake for Ukraine's winner in October 2020.
He was left out of the squad in March earlier this year and then in June, ahead of a Nations League clash with the Czech Republic, Enrique shed some light on why he does not fancy De Gea.
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"I look to have three starting goalkeepers and I think that right now I have them," he told a press conference.
"Honestly, I wouldn’t have an issue with any of the three of them starting.
"Unai has accumulated some interesting experience. A goalkeeper should start the play and generate the first superiority, they must dominate the aerial play.
“I need a goalkeeper that transmits peace and calmness to me - and that doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes, errors are part of football. But what they generate I like a lot.”
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De Gea has been criticised for his distribution and not being proactive, with this being an important aspect needed to play in Erik ten Hag's system at United.
Despite some early wobbles, the former Atletico Madrid man has nailed down the starting spot and made 16 appearances in all competitions.
But having been Spain's No.1 at the last World Cup in Russia, he's well out of favour for the national team these days.
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At the Euros last year, De Gea was understudy to Simon and did not play a single minute as Spain reached the semi-finals.
Spain have been placed in Group E alongside Costa Rica, Japan and Germany.
Topics: David De Gea, Spain, Football World Cup, Luis Enrique
Josh Lawless