Spain: when Madrilenians denounce a pro-Barça lobby

It's the hype of the moment, and the novelty in the latest list of the Spanish selection for this international break. At the age of 17, Pau Cubarsí is getting everyone to agree on the other side of the Pyrenees. Or almost. Indeed, his rather early selection – he played 13 matches in all competitions with Barça – is the subject of debate and raises a new feud between pro-Barça and pro-Madrid. Indeed, some fans of Real Madrid, a team which has only placed two players on the list (Carvajal and Joselu), believe that the Federation and the selection staff are calling young Barcelona players too quickly.

It must be said that before Cubarsí, there were a good number of Barcelona players who were called up very quickly: Pedri, Gavi, Alejandro Baldé or even Ansu Fati. Some have become very important, like the first two, and we can say that La Roja was right to call on them. But that is not the question. Why call them so quickly? Is there really a pro-Barça tendency on the side of Las Rozas as some claim? Isn't this simply an excess of youthism? A lack of talent which requires calling on young people? In certain cases, like that of Yamal, there was also another issue: screening out another selection that could claim to use the services of the person concerned.

Easier to get called up while playing for Barça?

At the same time, a Real Madrid player with a little experience in the baggage like Brahim Diaz, for example, has never fully entered into the selection plans. Whatever it is, it causes a reaction, in the media and on social networks. “Going to the Spanish selection is less and less expensive… If you play for Barça. After Luis Enrique summoned Gavi with less than 200 minutes in La Liga with Barça, this time it's Cubarsí's turn »can we read in The Confidential. The newspaper also highlights the Eric Garcia case, which also goes in this direction of favoritism towards Barça players. Indeed, he was called up, and sometimes started, when he was only the 4th central defender in the hierarchy of the Catalan club. Now a starter and good at Girona, he is no longer called up for the selection.

OKDiario reveals a somewhat telling statistic: of the last 12 players under the age of 20 called up for selection, 9 were from Barcelona. On social networks, Madrid supporters also do not hesitate to display their discontent. It must be said that since this famous Euro 2020 (played in 2021) when Luis Enrique did not call up any Merengue players, many Real Madrid fans have moved away from the selection a little. And the phenomenon mentioned in this article is not likely to patch up the two parties… But as usual in football, the results will tell who was right and who was wrong…