Report: Spain players save Lopetegui

Julen Lopetegui will remain as Spain Coach for this summer’s World Cup after the late intervention by the squad captains, say reports in Spain.

Radio Marca report that Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta led a delegation of players who requested to the RFEF (Spanish FA) to reverse their decision to dismiss the Coach.

The head of the RFEF Luis Rubiales is said by multiple news outlets in the country to be ‘furious’ and ‘deeply upset’ of Tuesday’s announcement that the former goalkeeper would join Madrid after the World Cup.

Such news had taken the RFEF unaware and came just 21 days after the national team boss had put pen to paper on a new contract through to 2020.

Rubiales is said to believe the announcement will disrupt squad unity ahead of the tournament and that the confirmation should only have come after the conclusion of the competition.

A news conference jointly held by the two has been swiftly scheduled for Wednesday morning, with the suggestion that Lopetegui may leave his position, just two days before Spain kick-off their tournament against Portugal.

However, the press conference has now been pushed back twice as talks continue behind the scenes.

Early suggestions are that Under-21 Coach Albert Celades and the RFEF’s Fernando Hierro – both former Madrid players – may step into the breach in such a situation.

Tags Julen Lopetegui Spain World Cup
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