Pablo Fornals said he thanked David Moyes immediately for helping him return to the Spanish senior squad.
Signed from Villarreal for a club-record fee of £24million, Fornals’ recent form saw him rewarded with his first international cap since 2018, scoring a goal in Spain’s World Cup qualifier against Kosovo.
The 25-year-old said he wouldn’t have made it back to his national side without the Hammers and Moyes.
The midfielder said in an interview with the Daily Mail: “The first thing I did when I saw the Spain squad list was say thanks to the gaffer and to my team-mates. Without the work of every one of us, I could not be there.
'I'm really proud of my team-mates and all the staff as well. For everyone who can represent his country playing football, it's a massive thing so I am really happy.”
When at Villarreal, Fornals was a part of the side in 2018 which travelled to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium and left with all three points.
Kitted out in the all-white of Madrid that day was Cristiano Ronaldo, who he came up against at the London Stadium in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
“I didn't beat Cristiano Ronaldo,” he added in the interview. “It is not like I played against him one against one.
“I played for Villarreal against Real Madrid and of course it was a massive moment for us as it was the first time Villarreal had beaten Real Madrid at that stadium so it was a big moment, not just for me but for the club as well.”
