Lee Trundle column: 'Swansea City's Angel Rangel is good enough for Spain call'

ANGEL Rangel's decision to sign a new contract is great news for Swansea City because believe me, he was attracting plenty of admiring glances from other clubs.

I had a chat with Angel at the team hotel when Swansea were in Liverpool ahead of their recent game against the Reds.

He told me then that he loves life at Swansea and wanted to extend his stay in South Wales.

But there were also a number of other interested parties ready to prise him away from the Liberty had he not agreed to stay.

In contract negotiations, everyone says they've had offers from elsewhere, that's part of the game.

But I've got no doubt that there would have been other sides monitoring Angel because he's one of the best right-backs in the Premier League.

These days full-backs have to be almost like wingers. They have to possess pace and dribbling skills, yet also make sure they can defend and are not caught out of position by straying too far forwards.

Angel can do all these things — to top-class standards.

He first played in League One after arriving from the Spanish lower leagues and I think he has improved every year at Swansea.

I'm not surprised that this season has been his best yet because quality players always raise their game when they come up against better opponents.

People have even suggested Angel might be in line for an international call-up.

There isn't a tougher side in the world to break into because Spain have elite players of the very highest calibre in every single position.

They are the world and European champions on merit. For me, no other country comes near them at the moment.

But I reckon Angel is good enough to be included in one of Vicente del Bosque's squads.

I don't think there could be an easier transition to make than from Swansea City to Spain because their styles of play are so similar.

Angel is a technically excellent player who would thrive in such a demanding international environment.

And he is a thoroughly nice lad too, a fact proved by his decision to hand out sandwiches to the homeless at Christmas.

But he also has that will to win, which all great players need. There is no room for charity on the pitch.

I know he loves life in Swansea, he has married a Welsh girl and his daughter was born here.

Things have turned out well for him because there have been a couple of times when Angel came close to leaving.

When Swansea were in the Championship, Fulham and then top- flight Blackpool both came calling and Angel was tempted.

For whatever reason he ended up staying and I'm sure he is grateful for that fact.

There are now countless players who would give their right arm to move to Swansea because they are an established top-flight club who have won a major trophy and play fantastic football.

Many players have left the Liberty in the past — myself included — and things have not worked out exactly as planned.

If you're a good footballer who likes the ball passed on the floor, Swansea are the perfect club.

You could go to another side where the manager has different ideas and find that you don't fit in as well as you used to.