Reports in Spain say Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos can see the fingerprints of Jose Mourinho on the situation with Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
The Chelsea pair are missing Spain’s games against Belarus and Germany, the former a Euro 2016 qualifier, after Cesc reported with an injury and was sent home and Costa was left out of the squad in order to bolster his fitness.
Costa’s availability has been a battleground between Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque and AS report Casillas and Ramos are particularly unhappy with the striker.
Casillas and Ramos are said to expect Costa – and Cesc – to stand up to Mourinho and represent La Roja even against the manager’s wishes, as they did, to their cost, when playing under Mourinho at Real Madrid.
The goalkeeper was dropped to the bench, not for his performances, AS allege, but his friendship with Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
Ramos was also punished for his commitment to the national team but both stood up to Mourinho and remained at Madrid, while he left for a return to Chelsea.
AS also suggest Mourinho is a hypocrite as he asked for special dispensation to combine his role at Santiago Bernabeu with the Portugal job.
Ramos has made his unhappiness with Cesc and Costa public, although denied he was speaking specifically about the pair.
Pedro Rodriguez, Koke and Sergio Busquets echoed Ramos’ comments with AS pointing out that Busquets also reported injured but has remained with Spain rather than leave as Cesc did, despite Cesc playing 90 minutes against Liverpool while Busquets had to be subbed early against Almeria.
