Real Valladolid has stopped two of its players and its coach from representing Catalonia in the friendly against Venezuela to be held on 25th March at Girona's stadium Montilivi.
The club made the announcement through a blunt statement: "Alcaraz, Masip and Sergio won't go to the call from the Catalan team". Goalkeeper Jordi Masip, midfielder Rubén Alcaraz and coach Sergio González are thus expected to now miss the match.
Photo: Sergi Alcàzar
The reasons
"The club respects the Catalan Football Federation but believes that it has to put its own sporting interests first at a decisive point in the season and avoid taking risks which could mean the injury of one of these two footballers, before the key dates for the team," the club's statement says.
Photo: FCF
Valladolid is the only club possibly affected to have taken the controversial decision, with no suggestion political motives could be involved. The statement doesn't, however, say anything beyond "avoiding risks", leaving it unclear how that applies to their coach.
Change of opinion
The announcement, however, was a surprise as it showed an apparent reversal of opinion in just 24 hours. Yesterday, they were congratulating their players on their selection; today, they've blocked them from playing.
⚽️💜 Alcaraz y Masip, citados por la selección catalana para el amistoso ante Venezuela del próximo lunes 25 de marzo
— Real Valladolid C.F. (@realvalladolid) 18 de marzo de 2019
👉🏻 https://t.co/p2GXxDCiIr#pucela #RealValladolid pic.twitter.com/tRxDBjcjZS
Translation: Alcaraz and Masip, called by the Catalan team for the friendly with Venezuela next Monday, 25th March.
📝⚽️ Alcaraz, Masip y Sergio González no acudirán a la selección catalana. El Club entiende que debe hacer primar sus intereses deportivos en una fase crucial de la temporada
— Real Valladolid C.F. (@realvalladolid) 19 de marzo de 2019
👉🏻 https://t.co/VmH2v2BPF0#pucela #RealValladolid pic.twitter.com/sYMB7F7puN
Translation: Alcaraz, Masip and Sergio González won't attend the Catalan team. The club believes it should put its sporting interests first at a crucial point in the season.
The team
The formal announcement of the lineup will be made tomorrow, Wednesday. According to RAC1, the Catalan coach, Gerard López will call a team set to include some of the biggest names in world football, like Gerard Piqué and Xavi Hernández.
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Keepers | |
| Masip | Valladolid |
| Alberto García | Rayo |
| Defenders | |
| Gerard Piqué | Barça |
| Marc Muniesa | Girona |
| Dídac Vilà | Espanyol |
| Marc Bartra | Betis |
| Aleix Vidal | Sevilla |
| Martín Montoya | Brighton |
| Àlex Moreno | Rayo |
| Midfielders | |
| Xavi Hernández | Al-Sadd |
| Àlex Granell | Girona |
| Pere Pons | Girona |
| Aleix Garcia | Girona |
| Óscar Melendo | Espanyol |
| Joan Jordán | Eibar |
| Oriol Romeu | Southampton |
| Rubén Alcaraz | Valladolid |
| Forwards | |
| Sergio García | Espanyol |
| Gerard Deulofeu | Watford |
| Bojan Krkic | Stoke City |
| Enric Gallego | Osca |