David De Gea must reclaim his starting position at Manchester United to keep his place in the Spain squad, La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque has said.
De Gea was set to complete a move to Real Madrid on Monday but the deal fell through when the signing was not registered with the Spanish Football League (LFP) before the deadline.
Real, who were set to sell Keylor Navas to United as part of the deal, have indicated that they will not appeal the decision and De Gea will remain at Old Trafford until at least January.
United boss Louis van Gaal has so far not selected the 24-year-old this season due to concerns over his focus, but Del Bosque said he must be playing first-team football if he is to remain in contention for the national team.
World Cup and European Championship-winning coach Del Bosque told Cadena Cope he had not yet spoken to the player and said: "If there is any need I will say something, but he will take this episode like any other.
"Everything that happens is for a reason. I want him to play and to be happy, and to play well so I can select him."
Asked if the former Atletico Madrid keeper's place in the squad would be jeopardised if he did not reclaiming his starting spot, Del Bosque said: "If he doesn't play then it's very difficult he will come."
Despite De Gea not playing for United since July, though, Del Bosque said he could feature in the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers, with Spain hosting Slovakia on Saturday before facing Macedonia in Skopje three days later.
Del Bosque, who also has Porto's Iker Casillas and Sevilla's Sergio Rico in his squad, said: "We shall see.
"If he is in good shape, why shouldn't he play? After all, two of the best clubs have fought for him."
United and Real both issued statements in which they blamed each other for the failure to complete the transfer, but Del Bosque, who won the Champions League twice during his time in charge at the Bernabeu, refused to get involved in the dispute.
"I was attentive, of course, [but] I don't want to give an opinion," he said. "I'm not the one to judge the club's [Real Madrid's] actions."
Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez told reporters in Madrid on Wednesday: "Evidently, I have no comment" when asked about the De Gea incident.
Benitez was on his way to Nyon, France, for a UEFA coaching forum along with Diego Simeone and Unai Emery.