NYCFC star David Villa wants back on Spain national team and it could happen
Villa could rejoin the national team in the near future
He might just be the best player in Major League Soccer, but could David Villa still play for Spain? The NYCFC striker, tied for the league-lead in goals with 21, told Candena Ser that he would welcome a return to La Roja. Villa, who hasn't played for Spain since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, is Spain's leading goal scorer all time with 59 goals in 97 matches. He won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with Spain, and he could be in coach Julen Lopetegui's plans.
"I enjoy the national team from a distance," Villa said. "I would take the first flight back to play in the national team."
Sure, for a 34-year-old striker, that sounds far fetched. But here's why it could happen. Villa has gotten plenty of minutes, is in shape and still has that nose for goal that made him a legend at Valencia and a Champions League winner at Barcelona.
But that's not even the half of it. What Spain has up top nowadays isn't a lot to write home about. Just look at that Italy-Spain friendly Thursday. You have Vitolo, Nolito and Lucas Vazquez in attack, and they aren't even true strikers. Alvaro Morata has been good as a No. 9 for Spain, Diego Costa has been inconsistent, Jose Callejon has little experience with the team and Paco Alcacer hasn't been playing at Barcelona.
Villa wouldn't even be the oldest striker that has been called up, proving that age doesn't matter for the Iberians. Aritz Aduriz of Athletic Bilbao has been called up to Spain at the age of 35 and could still be in the team's plans thanks to his fine form.
Sure, Villa isn't playing at as high of a level as La Liga, but he's been darn good and what harm is there in calling him up for a friendly or two to see how he does if a 35-year-old can be called up? Whether he gets called up remains to be seen. But there is no doubt that he still has what it takes to contribute and that Spain has made similar picks in the past.
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