RFEF president Rubiales' opinion on Alba and Pique's Spain careers
"It's a controversial issue in Barcelona because Jordi's a magnificent player"
Luis Rubiales has spoken about two Barcelona players not currently linked with the Spain national team, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique.
In an interview with SPORT on his visit to Barcelona, the RFEF president was very cautious when speaking about both cases.
Pique retired from international football, while Alba has not been selected in either of Luis Enrique's two squads since the summer.
"I stay out of sporting matters," Rubiales said. "Luis Enrique, in this aspect, calls up the players he believes are the best, I have to have faith in him.
"I hope that he always makes the right selections and that we always winn. It's a controversial issue here in Barcelona because Jordi's a magnificent player, no doubt about that.
As for Pique, who was regularly jeered on Spain duty before retiring, Rubiales added: "I don't like that there's a disagreement between the players and the fans. The players have to fire up the fans and the fans have to support them.
"I have known Geri for a few years. I have played against him. He's an exceptional player, really good. I played against him when he was with Zaragoza, I don't know if I did when he was at Barça...
"But he's an an exceptional player, a good person, someone who wants to do important things, not for everyone else, but for himself. And that says a lot."
