Pedro has said being asked to sit on the bench at Euro 2016 is “not worth” his time.

Pedro has played less than 10 minutes so far in the tournament as Vicente del Bosque has preferred Nolito and David Silva on the flanks.

“I had different expectations when I first came here,” he said in an interview with Movistar, quoted in Marca. “It is difficult for me to play this role [as a substitute] and if there is no continuity it is not worth me turning up just to be part of the group.”

Pedro used Monday’s scheduled pre-match press conference to tackle the issues over his comments head-on. The 28-year-old said: “I am not sorry exactly. If you asked me about my future in the national team, I would say the same [again].

“I have spoken to Vicente, I have spoken to the players and they understand what I was saying, so I do not really understand while this has happened.

“I am very grateful to be here and be part of this team. I have been here for six years, I am not attacking the manager or other things that have been said. I assume the responsibility of what I have said, if I have to say sorry to someone because I haven’t liked it, I will say it. Now the most important thing is to be calm.”