Mikel Arteta has vowed to break into the Spain national team despite calls for him to switch to England.
Arteta was born in San Sebastian, Spain, 27 years ago but is yet to play for the country despite having three successful years at Goodison Park.
FIFA rules
Under FIFA rules, Arteta will become eligible to play for England in January 2010 and a group of Everton supporters recently started a petition to try and persuade the former Barcelona player to switch his allegiance from his native Spain to Fabio Capello's England.
That now looks unlikely, however, after he said: "At the moment the idea of playing for England hasn't even crossed my mind. I have the desire to play with Spain senior side.
"I appreciate a lot the affection they are giving me and the campaign they are doing for me to play for England, but at the moment I am not planning anything.
"I have played with all the categories of Spain and the hope to play with the full side is there. I know that it is very difficult because there are players with a lot of quality but I will fight to achieve it."
