Spain winger Pedro Rodriguez has hinted he could retire from worldwide football after being frustrated at his lack of playing time in the European champions’ opening two Euro 2016 matches.
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The 28-year-old, who was part of the Spain squads that won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, insisted he hadn’t meant to criticise coach Vicente del Bosque.
“It is also hard to continue being here because it is hard to assume this role for me”.
“If you don’t see continuity, coming here to stay with the group is no longer worth it”, he is quoted by BBC Sport as saying.
Pedro has backtracked on comments he wants to quit Chelsea and return to Barcelona, claiming it would be “almost impossible”.
During that time, several talented players successfully integrated into the Spanish team and were rewarded for doing so by being selected as part of Del Bosque’s final 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
Pedro joined Chelsea in August 2015 for around £20million after spending 12 years at Barcelona, where he rose through youth ranks to eventually make 204 La Liga appearances. Vicente [Del Bosque] and my teammates see [these comments] as being normal.
Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC.
“Pedro was a bit angry he is not playing, that is inevitable and can happen”.
“They play at a high level and I expect a hard game tomorrow”. I thank Vicente because without him I wouldn’t have won the World Cup or European Championship.
Yet the holders still need a point to seal top spot and ensure that they are not involved in a rematch of the 2012 final with Italy, winners of Group E, in the round of 16 in Paris on June 27.
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“The ideal [for the players] might be to play again, or to rest”, Del Bosque said when asked about his selection plans.
