Newly-crowned Women's Footballer of the Year Alexia Putellas has rejected suggestions Spain's on-strike players are rebels and says her team need to be able to focus on football.
Putellas, 29, is closing in on a return to action with club Barcelona after been out with an ACL injury she sustained last July prior to the Euros. But her national team remain in chaos, following qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup last September, 15 Spain players made themselves unavailable for selection, citing the "situation" around La Roja as the reason.
Manager Jorge Vilda has continued to omit the players and is yet to recall them only a few months away from the tournament. Putellas was not one of the original signatories making herself unavailable, but has backed her teammates and called on the Spanish federation to resolve the situation.
