David de Gea was reportedly left surprised after he received a message from the Spanish Football Association congratulating him on his international retirement, despite him yet to retire from playing for Spain.
The Manchester United goalkeeper was left out of Luis Enrique’s Spain squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. Enrique opted to pick Atletico Bilbao's Unai Simon, Brighton stopper Robert Sanchez and Brentford’s David Raya as his three goalkeepers for the tournament.
Under previous manager Vicente del Bosque, De Gea was a mainstay but since Enrique took over, he has slipped down the pecking order.
Advert
Now, journalist Jose Alvarez has revealed a bizarre moment where the Spanish FA congratulated De Gea on his international retirement.
Alvarez told Spanish news outlet El Chiringuito: “De Gea has been a bit of a strange subject.
“Suddenly he disappeared from the call ups a few months ago and Luis Enrique did call David to tell him he was not going to count on him. He told him that it was a technical decision. Obviously, David asked him what the reason was, but he was not given any further explanation.”
Advert
Alvarez continued: “A few days later David receives a message from (Luis) Rubiales, president of the Federation, who says ‘David I am glad that you have finally made the decision you have been thinking about". I have already been told that you are leaving the national team’.
“To this David replies ‘Sorry? There is no renunciation of anything, who has told you that I renounce anything? The coach has told me that he is not going to count on me, but I have never renounced the national team, nor do I intend to do so, that is if I am called up’.”
The journalist added: “He was a bit surprised by the communication between Luis Enrique and Rubiales and the message that arrived from Rubiales afterwards.
Advert
“The last year and a half De Gea has been very good, being a protagonist for Manchester United in almost every game and he was seen as being a part of the three in the national team.
“I do not say he should be a starter, but he believed he could contribute apart from experience. He was a bit surprised that Rubiales sent him the message saying that he was going to resign from the national team or that he had made the decision after thinking about it, never mind congratulations for taking the decision.”
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: David De Gea, Manchester United, Spain, Luis Enrique, Football World Cup