'Has been on our radar' - Spain coach discusses omission of red-hot striker Omorodion from squad

Luis de La Fuente, the coach of the Spanish national team, has commented on the notable absence of forward Samu Omorodion from the latest squad ahead of their UEFA Nations League clashes against Denmark and Serbia.

Omorodion, who has been making waves since joining FC Porto this summer, recently showcased his remarkable talent during a thrilling UEFA Europa League match against Manchester United. 

In that game, held at the Estádio do Dragão, the Spanish-Nigerian striker netted two goals, helping Porto secure a dramatic 3-3 draw.  

After Porto fell behind by two goals early in the match, Omorodion initiated a stunning comeback, heading in a goal from João Mario’s cross in the 34th minute.

He then put Porto ahead just five minutes into the second half, firing a powerful shot past goalkeeper André Onana after receiving a precise pass from Pepê.

Since his arrival at Porto, Omorodion has been in sensational form, scoring seven goals in six appearances across all competitions. 

However, despite his impressive performances, he was omitted from the Spanish squad announced on Friday.

In his absence, de La Fuente has placed his trust in other forwards, including Álvaro Morata, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Mikel Oyarzabal, Yeremy Pino, and José Luis Mato Sanmartín, commonly known as Joselu.

During a press conference on Friday, de La Fuente expressed his admiration for Omorodion's potential and confirmed that he has been keeping a close eye on the young forward’s progress at Porto.

"He is a player who has been on our radar for a long time. He is doing very well and he is a player with a great future for Spain. He is not now, but he could be,” he was quoted as saying by A Bola. 

"If Samu was there and there was no other player, they would have asked me about the other player.

The 63-year-old coach further emphasized his belief in Omorodion’s talent, saying, “He is a player that we value highly, he showed it in the youth teams, and, if he continues like this, he will be here (in the squad)".

Omorodion, however, received an invitation to join the Spanish U21 squad for their upcoming matches against Kazakhstan and Malta.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: rfef.es

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com