Luis de la Fuente says he was saddened by the booing directed at Spain’s World Cup winners when the trophy was presented to supporters at San Mames.
The Spain manager remains at the centre of attention after guiding La Roja to the World Cup title this summer. Speaking to Spanish national radio about the latest sporting issues in the country, he was asked about the reception given to Aymeric Laporte, Nico Williams and Unai Simon as they displayed the trophy to fans inside the Bilbao stadium.
“I feel sorry about the boos at San Mames,” said De la Fuente.
The 63-year-old, who previously spent 18 years at Athletic Club, said the incident failed to show sufficient respect for Spain’s achievement or for the players who had delivered it.
De la Fuente highlighted the strong local connection of Laporte, Williams and Simon, describing them as players who had grown up within the club system and developed at Athletic’s Lezama academy.
“I have spent 18 years in this house,” he said, referring to his time at Athletic. “What happened was an act that did not respect the achievement Spain made at the World Cup, nor the players themselves who achieved it.”
His comments came after the three players appeared before the San Mames crowd with the World Cup trophy. The occasion was overshadowed by the whistles, despite the players’ links to the club and their development in Bilbao.
De la Fuente also addressed the difficult situation surrounding migration in Ceuta. Asked about the sensitive issue affecting the Spanish city, he said the priority should be to restore normal life for its residents.
“The first people who should recover their lives are the people of Ceuta, who have seen, in one way or another, their normal lives come to a halt,” he said.
The Spain manager was also questioned about the possibility of the 2030 World Cup final being played in the country. Spain is set to be among the host nations for the tournament, and De la Fuente made clear that he would support the final being staged on home soil.
“As the host country, there are many possibilities, and I support the final being played here in our country,” he said.
De la Fuente’s remarks come as Spain continues to celebrate its World Cup success, while the treatment of some of the victorious players in Bilbao remains a subject of debate. His focus was on the importance of recognising both the scale of the national team’s achievement and the contribution made by players who came through the Athletic Club system.
