Vicente del Bosque has revealed that he considered including Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes in his latest Spain squad.
Valdes has played just twice for United since joining in January, and manager Louis van Gaal this summer told the former Barcelona keeper that he has no future at the club.
Despite failing to find a move away from Old Trafford during the summer transfer window, Del Bosque admits that he came close to drafting Valdes into his squad for Spain's friendlies against Slovakia and Macedonia.
"We were very close to calling Víctor Valdes, he has always done well for the national team," he told reporters.
"I know that the national team is not a charity but maybe he needed a lift and in the end we didn't give it to him, maybe we have even been cowards. I think we are all people and we have to have feelings."
Valdes has 20 caps for Spain, with his most recent appearance coming in March 2014 in a friendly against Italy.
Miles Jolliffe
