Spain’s under-21 manager has announced his 22-man squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics, including two players that are currently at Euro 2024 with the senior side.
The squad interestingly does not include any Real Madrid or Athletic Club players, despite both possessing two of the most prolific academies in Spain. Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez and Villarreal’s Alejandro Baena will head from Germany to France, depending on La Roja’s progress at Euro 2024, with just 10 days between the final of the Euros and the start of Spain’s Olympic campaign.
Ferran Torres has decided to not go to the Olympic Games. He wants to focus on Barça and be there at the beginning of pre-season. @Luis_F_Rojo
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 26, 2024
The three overage players, with teams limited to under-23 players, are Manchester City’s Sergio Gomez, Braga’s Abel Ruiz and Real Betis’ Juan Miranda. They are hardly much older than their peers at 24, but are part of the same generation that came through together through the youth categories.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have more players than any other side in the squad, with Pau Cubarsi, who was dropped from Spain’s preliminary Euros squad, Lopez, and the returning loanee Eric Garcia. Los Rojiblancos have Samu Omorodion, Pablo Barrios and goalkeeper Alejandro Iturbe in Denia’s selection.
Santi Denia has announced his Spain squad for the #Paris2024 Olympics.
Fermin Lopez and Alejandro Baena will join straight after #Euro2024. #LaRoja pic.twitter.com/pgiYqfkiAe
— Football España (@footballespana_) June 26, 2024
Spain kick off their campaign for the gold medal in Paris at the Stade de France, before heading to Bordeaux to take on the Dominican Republic three days later, and then Egypt on the 30th of July. Tje top two go through to the knockout round. Ferran Torres reportedly turned down the chance to be one of the overage players, in order to focus on preseason with Barcelona, while Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams could have been called up, but have been left out.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Pablo Barrios, Alejandro Iturbe and Samu Omorodion will go to the Olympics with Spain! pic.twitter.com/fMF7duIMop
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) June 26, 2024
