Liga F clubs’ commitment to young players could have an immediate consequence.
Twenty-two of the 26 players called up by David Aznar to prepare for the Under-20 World Cup belong to eight clubs in the competition. Barcelona and Real Madrid provide six each; Athletic, Atlético, Deportivo and Real Sociedad have two apiece; and Alavés and Granada contribute one.
Not all of them have first-team status, but almost all are already involved with their senior sides.
Seventeen are officially members of first-team squads. Another five belong to Barcelona B or Real Madrid B, although Julia Torres, Noa Jiménez, Rosalía Domínguez and Irune Dorado are spending pre-season with the senior teams. Bibiana Casquero is the only one yet to appear with Real Madrid’s first team this summer.
Twelve have already played in friendlies
The preliminary squad does not consist solely of prospects waiting for an opportunity.
At least twelve of the players have already appeared in first-team pre-season friendlies. Daniela Agote and Elene Gurtubay played for Athletic against Deportivo; Amaya García started for Alavés; five of Real Madrid’s six representatives featured against Madrid CFF; and both Deportivo players and both Real Sociedad players have also been given minutes.
At Barcelona, the three B-team players included in the squad are training alongside Aïcha Camara, Carla Julià and Clara Serrajordi with the first team.
Four matchdays in September
The squad is not yet final. The 26 players will attend a training camp from 10 to 19 August before Aznar reduces the group that will travel to Poland.
The World Cup will take place from 5 to 27 September. If Spain progress through the tournament, the selected players could miss four of the opening five Liga F matchdays.
The clubs have opened the first-team door to a new generation. The final squad will determine how many must begin the season without some of those young players.
