David de Gea No Longer Spain Number 1

New Spain boss Robert Moreno has told David de Gea that he is no longer his country’s No.1.

De Gea has been La Roja’s first choice since replacing World Cup winner Iker Casillas between the sticks towards the end of the Vicente del Bosque era.

But he was overlooked by Moreno earlier this year, when he replaced Luis Enrique, after the ex-Barcelona boss stepped away from the role.

Moreno has since started Chelsea stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks in each of Spain’s last three matches, during a period where De Gea’s form at Manchester United had dipped.

De Gea, who has 39 senior caps to his name, has been expected to be first choice when Spain return to action in their Euro 2020 qualifiers next month.

Yet Moreno has declared that is not the case. "My goalkeepers are De Gea, Kepa and [Roma's] Pau Lopez," Moreno told radio station Cadena SER.

"I like that there is competition. Kepa is not ahead of De Gea, and neither is ahead of Pau.

"I want to get to the Euros with three goalkeepers who are ready to compete. They are all playing at a high level and there are nuances and differences between them. All three have good footwork.

"At Barca, we won the treble alternating goalkeepers."

Enrique stepped down from his position in June, having missed three matches for what have been described as “personal reasons”.

Little has been said about the circumstances, but Moreno said: "He wants total privacy. There is little else I can tell you. He's fighting.

"Our friendship goes beyond the professional field. If at any time I have questions, I have the freedom, as long as the circumstances allow, to ask them.

"I learned from him how to deal with players. Learn how they think, what they want, what they need.

"Books do not explain it to you. He put me by his side and taught me all that."