De la Fuente’s praise matters because Gavi has always brought more than neat passing. He gives Spain edge, energy and that snap in midfield that can turn sterile possession into pressure. The coach underlined the point by saying, “We missed him once he was no longer available.”
That feels right. Spain have other gifted midfielders, but Gavi offers a different rhythm:
If he is, as de la Fuente said, in a “very good moment,” then Spain regain one of their most disruptive weapons.
The other striking detail is how settled de la Fuente appears to be. “The list, which I already have, is decided,” he said, before making clear that 26 players will go and only three goalkeepers will travel.
That leaves one obvious sub-plot:
In tournament football, those margins matter. A manager closing the door this early can be reassuring for the chosen few and brutal for everyone else.
There is a broader message here too. De la Fuente is not chasing headlines. He appears to be backing a group he trusts, with Gavi’s return restoring a familiar core rather than creating a new one.
When the squad is named next week, the spotlight will fall on the final goalkeeper call - but once that noise fades, all eyes will turn to whether Gavi can bring his old bite back to Spain on the biggest stage.