New Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has admitted he tried unsuccessfully to persuade Sergio Busquets to continue his international career.
Busquets announced on Friday that he would be calling time on his career with Spain after World Cup 2022.
De la Fuente, who has replaced Luis Enrique at the helm, says he wanted the captain to continue but was unable to change his mind.
“I had the privilege of receiving a call yesterday in which he informed me that he had made that decision. I tried to convince him, but he is a man with clear ideas and he had chosen the decision.