2023-06-12 16:28:21
BarcelonaA total of 30 players have been called up by Spanish coach Jorge Vilda in an expected shortlist for the preparation of the Women’s World Cup this summer. The conflict of the 15 players who in September sent an email to refuse to be called up until the conditions of the Spanish national team improved has finally been resolved, only partially. “It’s a continuous list in terms of the block. There are committed players,” said Vilda to begin her speech to explain the call. “We have to focus on what is really important, which is the group, and not on everything that has been talked about in recent months.” On June 30, the coach will give the final list of the 23 chosen to go to the World Cup that will be played in Australia and New Zealand from July 20.
Of the six Barça players who signed the letter demanding improvements in September, two have entered the shortlist. They are Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey. On the other hand, Sandra Paños has not entered the call despite having informed the federation that she was available again. On the other hand, the Blaugrana players Mapi León, Patri Guijarro and Clàudia Pina (plus Lola Gallardo, Nerea Eizaguirre, Amaiur Sarriegi and Ainhoa Moraza) remain firm with the decision taken in September. “The federation has always been open to dialogue. It is practically resolved. There have been private conversations, which I will not reveal, but in the end, despite some details, we have come to make this list,” said Vilda, reluctant to talk of the subject When he was asked about names like Patri Guijarro and Mapi León, he refused to answer: “I will talk about the players who are there, not the ones who are not there.”
The return of Alexia Putellas to the Spanish team
The coach focused on celebrating the return of Alexia Putellas, who is back after overcoming the long injury that kept him out of the field for most of the season. “She will help us with her leadership and her ascendancy over the other players. In the previous Eurocopa we couldn’t have her, neither her nor Jenni Hermoso. Now we have both available.” With regard to Aleixa’s role in the return of some players, Vilda has admitted that she has had conversations with the Barcelona captain that have helped to partially resolve the situation.
The two-time Ballon d’Or was not part of the 15 due to the injury, but supported them by sharing the letter on social media. For her part, the central Irene Paredes had already entered the last call-up to play two friendlies after not being called up throughout the course despite not having sent the email of resignation. There are up to nine Blaugrana players on the shortlist. Alexia, Aitana, Mariona and Paredes are joined by Laia Codina, Jana Fernández, Salma Paralluelo, María Perez and Cata Coll. These last two are released in a call with the absolute. In addition, Ona Batlle has also entered, the Catalan player from Manchester United who will probably arrive at Barça this summer and who is the third of the 15 who has changed his mind about September.
The reasons for the return of some of the critical players
“The reason for the return is not that there have been improvements requested as a group, although there may be some. Each player has requested specific things at the individual level and the ones they have informed that they are available again are because they consider that in their case they have been fulfilled,” a source close to the Barça dressing room explains to ARA. In recent weeks, the 15 footballers who resigned from the national team met individually with the Federation, and those who changed their minds sent an email informing of their new position on the conflict. Previously, there had also been group meetings.
This same source explains that, “in some cases, the fact that FIFA has increased the salaries of female players to compete in the World Cup has played an important role in the decision.” Each footballer who participates in the tournament is guaranteed almost 20,000 euros and the members of the winning team will pocket 250,000. The average salary in women’s football, according to FIFA itself, is 13,000 euros per year and the collective agreement of League F is 16,000 euros per year.
“The meeting with the Federation went very well and the players saw a good willingness to listen. This gave them the peace of mind to know that they were aware that things could be improved,” another source close to the Barcelona dressing room. “In addition, the players who have been called up during this course have transmitted to the 15 that the rallies were being more joyful and enjoyable, unlike others that had been more tense and with little freedom for the players to do things,” he adds.
The visit of Jorge Vilda and his coaching staff to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper during the month of May was also key. “The players have seen that it was difficult to get changes from the outside because nothing was being achieved from the players’ union (FUTPRO) and, instead, from the inside they will be up to date and have a bigger media speaker to improve what they consider that it is necessary to improve”, concludes this source, familiar with the reality of the Barça dressing room.
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