Taking advantage of Spanish clubs' obligation to release players, Spain will take six members from its European Championship squad to the Tokyo Olympics. (More Football News)
Olympic coach Luis de la Fuente announced a list of 22 players on Tuesday including Unai Simon, Eric Garcia, Pau Torres, Pedri Gonzalez, Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo. They are in the Euro 2020 squad that on Monday advanced to the quarterfinals.
Simón, García and Pedri were in the starting line-up as Spain defeated Croatia 5-3 in extra time in Copenhagen. Torres and Olmo also have started for Spain at Euro 2020.
"These players will arrive greatly motivated, with greater experience," De la Fuente said. "They are young players with spectacular quality. Hopefully they will arrive just after the (Euro 2020) final, after having won the title."
De la Fuente said some international clubs denied the request to release players, as is their right. Local legislation forces Spanish clubs to do it, though.
"We are lucky that the Spanish clubs have the obligation to release players," he said.
The only players from non-Spanish clubs in the Olympic squad are Olmo of Leipzig and Rafa Mir of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The three players over 24 in Spain’s squad will be Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio and Mikel Merino.
Ceballos hadn't been called up for the senior team because of an injury, while Asensio recently lost his place in the team coached by Luis Enrique.