Germany v Greece - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A2 MD2
AUGSBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 27: Florian Wirtz of Germany looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Germany and Greece at WWK Arena on September 27, 2026 in Augsburg, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Luis de la Fuente knows a good player when he sees one, and there is one German player he would happily add to his Spain squad.
Ahead of the upcoming international fixtures, De la Fuente was asked whether there was a German player he would like to have playing for Spain. His answer was immediate: Florian Wirtz.
“Florian Wirtz, he is fantastic. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a Spanish passport,” De la Fuente said with a laugh (per Sport Bild via @iMiaSanMia). “I really like the way he plays.”
Despite Wirtz’s difficulties since transferring to Liverpool in 2025, it is not difficult to understand why Wirtz would catch the Spain coach’s attention. The former Bayer Leverkusen star has established himself as one of the most technically gifted attacking midfielders in international football, combining creativity, close control, intelligent movement, and the ability to produce decisive moments in the final third.
The problem for Wirtz is that he has not been able to use all of his talent to become a consistently strong player in the Premier League. That does not matter to De la Fuente, as he simply admires Wirtz’s overall game.
If you wanted to entertain the fantasy, though, Wirtz would fit naturally into a possession-oriented team that places a premium on creativity and combination play. His ability to operate between the lines and create opportunities for teammates would give De la Fuente another dangerous option in an already talented attack.
In the end, it is quite the compliment from one of Europe’s leading international managers. Germany has plenty of talented players, but if Spain could steal just one for its squad, De la Fuente knows exactly who he would choose.
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