Ander Herrera finally received a call-up to the Spain squad this week, ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Albania.

However, the Manchester United midfielder has admitted that he thought David De Gea was playing an elaborate prank when he told him.

The former Athletic Bilbao midfielder was enjoying a holiday in Madrid with his family when De Gea gave him a call and revealed that Spain boss Julen Lopetegui had picked Herrera in his star-studded squad.

But Herrera wasn’t totally convinced by De Gea’s phone call.

He said: “David de Gea called me unexpectedly and I thought he was calling me for something else.

“He said, ‘Come over here.’ ‘Here? But where’s here?’ I replied. I didn’t realise at that moment. ‘Lopetegui told me that you will come with us,’ he said. I thought it was a joke, and even asked him if it was.”

“I packed my suitcase really quickly, and then Lopetegui called me. I took a taxi to come to the Spain training centre as soon as possible as I didn’t want him to turn to another player who could come sooner than me!”

Spain take on Italy at the Juventus Stadium in Turin tonight, a stage which could prove an important one as Herrera looks to kick start his international career.

 

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