Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has named a 27-man squad for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, handing a call-up to defender Jacobo Ramon. De la Fuente praised the young centre-back's performances at Como, drawing parallels between the Serie A side and La Roja.
Ramon earns senior call-up amidst defensive reshuffle
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has included Como defender Jacobo Ramon in his 27-man squad for the concluding UEFA Nations League group matches. With Eric Garcia missing out through injury, the world champions turned to the emerging defender to bolster their central options.
Ramon joins Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, and Dean Huijsen in the defensive unit.
De la Fuente also confirmed that Atletico Madrid's Marc Pubill will be utilised at fullback rather than centrally.
De la Fuente hails Ramon's progression and U21 form
Explaining his choice, De la Fuente pointed to Ramon's impressive performances in Serie A and his established trajectory within the national team's youth setups.
"Jacobo is having a great season and doing a great job with the U21s. His performance is exceptional," De la Fuente stated.
The manager emphasised that the defender's domestic output fully justified his inclusion alongside established international teammates.
Praise for Como and youthful central defensive core
De la Fuente expressed admiration for Como's playing style under Cesc Fabregas, highlighting how young defenders benefit from playing in progressive systems.
"Como is one of the best-playing teams in Europe. There are certain parallels with our style. Their players embody our vision of football," De la Fuente explained.
"Spanish football is privileged. They're working very well, and the fact that Jacobo Ramon is older than Huijsen and Cubarsi is older is proof of how well things are being done. I'm glad it's this way, without diminishing the value of the veterans, because experience is also key; they are their best teachers," he added.
Spain prepare for Nations League group conclusion
La Roja enter the international window sitting top of their Nations League group with 12 points from four matches.
Spain will open their window against the Czech Republic in Prague before concluding their group stage fixtures against England at the Metropolitano.
Ramon will look to make his senior debut as Spain aim to lock down top spot in the group.
A sports journalist with nearly a decade of experience, beginning the professional journey at Indonesia's legendary Tabloid BOLA from 2017 until its final print edition in December 2018. Following that, joining GOAL, contributing as a freelance writer for FIFA, and working within the media department of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Alongside the journalism career, also active as a live play-by-play commentator for Indonesian football since 2017. Holds a bachelor's degree in History from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung.
Football Story
Footballing identity built on geography, heritage, and childhood obsession. Although the father played for a traditional rival club, nine years living in Bandung made Persib a spiritual home, sparked in 2006 by Thai goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool and witnessing firsthand how deeply locals own the club. Globally, the first true love was Ronaldo and Inter Milan, enduring the heartbreak of near-misses during injury-plagued years. With Dutch roots in Rotterdam, making Feyenoord the club of choice, the Netherlands national team has always remained close to the heart, highlighted by the 2010 World Cup final, a live 2013 friendly against Indonesia, and Oranje Indonesia watch parties. Arjen Robben and Giovanni van Bronckhorst remain ultimate favorites, while Football Manager 2005 sparked a lasting admiration for Athletic Bilbao’s philosophy. Outside football, allegiance lies with the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors through icons like Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and Stephen Curry.
Areas of Expertise
Areas of expertise span Indonesian football and Liga 1 data insights and unique features, alongside Southeast Asian and East Asian football landscapes covering Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. Additional skills include digital and social media video content creation such as Instagram reels and podcasts, as well as player profiling, feature writing, live broadcasting, interviewing, photography, and multilingual communication in basic français and español .
Favourite Footballing Memory
Combining a passion for backpacking with professional assignments has made it possible to pursue two goals simultaneously. Meeting and interviewing various Indonesian players pursuing careers or currently based abroad, ranging from across Southeast Asia to Europe, has been an absolute privilege and honor. Traveling independently through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Japan to track down and connect with Indonesian players competing abroad remains a truly cherished experience. Crafting interview content with them is a body of work that will always hold a special place in memory.
My All-Time XI
It’s tough to lock down a definitive starting XI, but the non-negotiables are Manuel Neuer or Rogério Ceni in goal; alongside Javier Zanetti, Sergio Ramos, N'Golo Kanté, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben, Mo Salah, and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Juan Román Riquelme or Michael Laudrup most likely complete the tactical puzzle. While legends like Lothar Matthäus, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo are impossible to overlook, they were left out simply because they feature in everyone else's lineup.
