Roberto Fernández called up to the national team, Ferran also shines
In Las Rozas, Roberto Fernández, a 24‑year‑old striker for Espanyol, answered the media on July 19 while staying at the Torremirona hotel in Navata, announcing his first call‑up to the Spanish national team after the World Cup final victory and after scoring six goals in the first seven matchdays, comparing himself to Ferran Torres.
Path to the call‑up
According to Rodrigo Jimenez of EFE, Fernández had spent the night under Manolo's orders watching the World Cup final, and described his mental state: “I was already focused with my club. The whole team was expectant. It was incredible for all Spaniards.”
Sixty‑one days after the World Cup triumph, Roberto Fernández received the call from Luis de la Fuente and entered the first call‑up of the national team, after having scored six goals in the first seven matchdays of the season. “I was with my whole family: my partner, my sister, my parents and my agent, and when the name was announced, I was euphoric. Everyone got excited,” he recounted describing his reaction.
Competition up front
With his arrival to the Roja, Fernández acknowledges the tough competition up front: “Everyone has surprised me in training. I’ve already suffered against Cucurella, he’s super intense, Pedri because of how he drives the ball, Oyarzabal has quality and a lot of goals, Ferran as well…”.
The striker also stated his goal with the national team: “What we want to focus on is to want to be better than what has already been achieved. We have to show that we are the champions, keep winning, first against England, and then qualify for the Nations final.”
If he ends up playing for the Roja, the release clause in his contract will increase from 25 to 30 million, according to the club.
Carles Ruipérez Tirado, journalist for La Vanguardia, highlighted that Fernández thanked Espanyol for trusting him when he was “regularly passing at Braga”, and recalled that forwards such as Joselu, De Tomás, Tamudo or Luis García also earned the call‑up, underscoring the club’s tradition of producing international strikers.