Nacho Fernandez shares he doesn’t get good exposure. Nacho Fernandez, a Spanish defender for Real Madrid, has admitted that he believes he must consistently put in twice as much effort as his countrymen to be recognized in international colors.
Luis de la Fuente did not pick Nacho, who gave Spain the victory over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday (June 18). Only after the injury to Osasuna captain David Garcia was discovered was he called up for Nations League duty.
In place of Robin Le Normand on Sunday, Nacho came on in the 78th minute and made an outstanding last-ditch tackle on Lovro Majer 22 minutes later. La Roja won the game 5-4 on penalties after the game ended scoreless at the end of extra time.
Nacho expressed his delight at being able to assist Spain in taking home a major international prize after the game. The defender for Real Madrid stated to Cadena SER: “I’m very happy because it was a last-ditch play that worked perfectly and helped us win the title.”
“I’m very proud to represent [Spain], it’s the best thing that can happen to you, and today is one of the best days of my life, so simply put, I have goosebumps. Representing your nation and winning a championship is something that very few players can achieve. Recently, it looked like everything was going wrong and that we weren’t working very well, but in the end, we all came out stronger, happy for us and Spain, and ready to keep fighting.”
Nacho continued by saying that he believed he was treated a little less favorably and required twice as much effort when competing in international colors.
He added: “In one more game, I’ve demonstrated [my abilities] and revealed my identity in a crucial contest. I constantly feel as though I have to work twice as hard as the other players.”
In his 24 career appearances for Spain, Nacho, who has been Real Madrid’s third or fourth-choice defense since 2012, has scored once. He wasn’t included on Spain’s roster for the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Eden Hazard asserts that he spent three years “resting” at Real Madrid:
Earlier in June, Eden Hazard and Real Madrid mutually agreed to discontinue their relationship, putting an end to the former Chelsea superstar’s disastrous run. Hazard has denied retirement rumors amid questions over his future, asserting that he still has energy after taking a two- to three-year break.
Speaking to Belgian outlet RTBF, Hazard said (via GOAL): “Is my future? Sincerely, I’m not sure yet. I just want to spend time with my family and go on a vacation after three difficult years. We shall see. I still believe I have what it takes to make it as a professional football player, but I have been taking two or three years off. I’m still somewhat energized!”
In the summer of 2019, Hazard paid a staggering €115 million transfer fee to Real Madrid. Hazard only made 76 appearances between the 2019–20 and 2022–23 seasons, scoring seven goals, due to many injuries and a lack of success with his coaching.
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