Barcelona lose importance in the Spain U21 team

Barcelona have lost clout in the Spain U21 team, a side they are used to filling up with their players. The likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Bartra, Thiago, Montoya, Bojan, Tello, Muniesa, Arnau, and Roger were important in the 1998, 2011, 2013 European Championship triumphs.

In the current edition Barcelona have just one representative, Denis Suarez, who lost the battle to start against Dani Ceballos. Then there is Deulofeu, who has an asterisk above his head. 

Curiously there is a lot of players in the squad who have played for Barcelona at one point in time or another, but ended up looking for alternative options because they didn't get chances at Barcelona. 

Bellerin moved to Arsenal when he was 16 and is now a first choice there, with Barcelona trying to get him back for big money. Further up the right flank is Deulofeu, who the club may pay 12 million euros for. 

Sandro, meanwhile, who left for free is now hot property as clubs try to sign him frim Malaga. Another who was in Celades' squad is Grimaldo. The Benfica player pulled out because of injury at hte last moment. He left after realising Luis Enrique did not believe in him.

Jugadores como Aleñá o Cucurella tienen protagonismo en las inferiores de la selección pero todavía no les ha llegado su momento con la sub'21.

Despite promotion, no Barcelona B players made it into the Spain U21 squad. The likes of Alena and Cucurella have protagonism in younger levels but not at U21 yet. Samper and Munir, who were both on loan at Granada and Valencia respectively, have also been left off the list.