In a warning to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas over plans of moving to Barcelona, former Tottenham coach Juande Ramos says he is not good enough to play in Spain's midfield.

In a column for the Independent, Ramos wrote: "I know some English fans cannot understand why Cesc Fabregas does not get a start for Spain but maybe that is just because they see him every week and they don't see so much of Silva, Iniesta and Alonso.

"All these players are playing at a very high level and it is not that Fabregas is inferior, it is just the continuation of the team that won the European Championship two years ago. Fabregas will play his part just as he did in Austria and Switzerland.

"He just happens to be part of a special generation of players and there are so many options for the coach that it is inevitable that very good players will be left out of some games."