SPAIN

Alexia Putellas opens up on Spain Women’s Team situation, saying she will speak “soon”

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke about the tense situation that has surrounded the National Team for a month.

David González

Barcelona captain and Spain international, Alexia Putellas, has opened up on the situation that the players are currently going through regarding the chaos surrounding the national side, saying that she “will speak soon” about the events that have occured.

Last night in Valencia, where the team have been sent as to avoid media harassment, an agreement in principle was reached between the football players (represented by the union FutPro), the Federation (RFEF) and the Sport Ministry of the Spanish Government.

In exchange for “immediate changes” to the RFEF’s structure, up to 21 players rejected a potential abandonment of the squad and remained in the training centre led by Montse Tomé; they will soon play against Sweden and Switzerland in the Nations League with Olympic Games qualification on the line.

Two players abandon Spain’s squad

All of the players except Mapi León and Patri Guijarro, who left the squad without facing any repercussions, will be available to play in the upcoming games. The two Barça players, upon leaving the squad, said to the press that “it’s a fact that the situation for us is different to the rest of the team”.

León and Guijarro rejected a proposed rapprochement ahead of the World Cup squad being announced as they felt the changes were not enough at the RFEF. “It’s not the right way to come back. We aren’t in a position to say ‘you can’t come back’, it’s a process, it’s true though that we’re happy because change is happening”, León said.

Spain's new head coach Montse Tomé led a short training session on Wednesday.JOSE JORDANAFP

What did Alexia say about the situation with Spain?

Everything, it seemed, was calming down. Until Alexia raised her voice. After the first training session in Oliva, Valencia, the Barça captain and two-time Ballon d’Or winner chose her moment to speak her mind, saying “we will talk very soon, not today because we have meetings. Tomorrow it will be clear. I don’t know where we’ll speak, but there are still things to say.”

Also, Alexia was asked about the decision made by her two teammates who have left, citing the fact that they weren’t comfortable being there, to which Alexia replied, “I’m not exactly here to feel comfortable.

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