Sanchez: Working with idol de Gea is surreal

Robert Sanchez is aware of how much progress he has made in his career in a relatively short period of time.

The 23-year-old was out on loan in League One with Rochdale last season, but rounds off the 2020/21 domestic campaign as Albion’s established goalkeeper and with a spot in Spain’s Euro 2020 squad.

“When I saw the news coming out that I was in the Euros squad it was unbelievable,” Sanchez said. “It’s a massive achievement for me personally to have the opportunity to represent my country, especially at a major tournament, when I haven’t played that many games in the Premier League. I have come a long way in a short amount of time.

“You never keep your spot in the national team, all you can do is play well for your club and let the boss of the national team gain that trust in you. You have to play at your best to make sure you always get their attention.

“It was an amazing experience to go with the national team for the first time, a dream come true. I got to meet all the players that I have grown up watching, I couldn’t really believe I was there. Afterwards I was very happy to have had that experience.”

One of those players Sanchez got to train alongside in March was Manchester United’s David de Gea.

“David de Gea was my idol and the goalkeeper that I followed growing up. Now I am a teammate of his and I talk to him as a friend, it’s quite surreal. We don’t really talk about serious things, we say good luck to each other before games.”

Sanchez’s rapid rise to the Albion first team and the Spain squad has been a rollercoaster for not only him, but his family.

“They are are excited and happy about my call-up because in Spanish football the dream is to play for the national team. After all the work they have put in, taking me to training and games every day and making so many sacrifices, I am pleased that I have got somewhere in the game for them.”