Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba has decided to retire from international soccer with immediate effect, bringing his highly successful Spain career to an end.
The 34-year-old, who joined Inter Miami earlier this summer, scored 10 goals in 93 senior caps for Spain, winning the Euros in 2012, and winning the Nations League in his final appearance earlier this summer.
Alba was no longer a first-choice pick, having been usurped by young sensation Alejandro Balde for both club and country last season, but was still a big part of the squad at the World Cup last year.
MARCA have confirmed that Alba has decided to retire because the travelling for international duty is now much longer from Miami, and Spain duty would interrupt his club career.
He has also decided to step aside to give the younger Spanish left-backs an opportunity, with Fran Garcia, Balde and Alfonso Pedraza all knocking on the door for a call-up.
Alba’s international career
Although the left-back did not feature in Spain’s triumphs in 2008 or 2010, he was an integral part of their glorious era, and won nearly everything possible at club level with Barcelona.
One of Spain’s most capped players, and one of their most influential players in the dressing room, Alba has been a mainstay in the side for over a decade, despite the likes of Nacho Monreal, Marcos Alonso and Jose Gaya emerging.
He started his Spain career with glory in 2012, which earned him his move to Barcelona from Valencia, and ended it with the Nations League, ahead of his move to Inter Miami.
It shows the calibre of player that Miami have landed in Alba, that he is one of international football’s greatest left-backs of his generation, and as an experienced winner, a leadership role appeared to be heading his way after Sergio Busquets retired internationally after the World Cup.
Alba will be able to fully focus on his Inter Miami career with no distractions, and Tata Martino may perhaps be happy with his decision.