West Ham United cult hero Pablo Fornals looks destined for a seat on the plane across the Atlantic as Luis de la Fuente selects the Real Betis playmaker in his latest Spain squad.
A few months back, before Fornals earned his first Spain cap since 2021, the former Malaga and Villarreal ace refuted suggestions that West Ham United inhibited his international ambitions.
Four of his seven caps came when he was at the heart of David Moyes’ Hammers midfield, after all.
What is your favourite Pablo Fornals memory at West Ham?
Pablo Fornals of Real Betis celebrates a goal during the La Liga EA Sports match between Real Betis and Valencia CF at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, Spain, on February 01, 2025.
What cannot be disputed, though, is that Fornals has ‘improved’ considerably alongside Manuel Pellegrini at Real Betis.
A point De La Fuente was also keen to make as Pablo Fornals is selected for the March international break, alongside Pedri, Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Alex Baena and former Hammers loanee Carlos Soler.
West Ham United cult hero Pablo Fornals back in Spain fold
Pablo Fornals celebrates after Real Betis beat Valencia.
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Fornals and De La Fuente have quite a history together. They combined to help Spain win the Under-21 European Championships back in 2019.
Seven years on, both player and coach have grander ambitions; La Roja one of the favourites for the upcoming World Cup.
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“I’ve known him for a long time. We were Under-21 champions together!” De La Fuente said during a press conference. “We’ve spent many years together, training together, and he’s having a great season.
“We’ve discovered a different side to his footballing ability. He can play as a central midfielder, he plays very well on the wing, he can play as an attacking midfielder. We like that versatility.
“He’s ready to develop the footballing philosophy and system we have. He plays very well. He has footballing characteristics that suit us very well. I’m thrilled and delighted that it’s this way.”
Mateus Fernandes and Jarrod Bowen seem World Cup-bound
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West Ham star Jarrod Bowen registered an assist in England's 5-0 win over Latvia
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Speaking on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast a few months ago, Spanish football expert Terry Gibson highlighted Fornals’ transformation into a ‘proper, box-to-box, all-round attacking midfielder‘.
Now 30, a footballer at the peak of his powers has six goals and four assists in 26 La Liga starts this season. This is his best return since he also hit the target six times for West Ham back in 2021/22.
Four years on, Fornals is threatening to become a regular in the Spain squad for the first time since the Hammers were bothering the Premier League’s top six on Moyes’ watch.
Current-day claret and blue playmaker Mateus Fernandes was called up by Portugal for the first time ahead of the March international break, meanwhile.
West Ham will have a number of representatives at the 2026 World Cup; Jarrod Bowen and El Hadji Malick Diouf are certainties, while Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tomas Soucek, Callum Marshall, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mads Hermansen face play-offs this month.
A seat on the plane is now Fornals’ to lose, as well, although the return from injury of Barcelona star Gavi may prove a late obstacle.
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