The 25-year-old’s explosive Bundesliga debut has caught the national team's eye, positioning the former Napoli star to challenge for a spot in Spain’s elite defensive rotation.
Miguel Gutiérrez's outstanding start to life at Bayer Leverkusen has already brought him onto the radar of Spain head coach Luis De la Fuente.
The 25-year-old has made an immediate impression since arriving from Napoli in the summer, and his performances have now earned a public acknowledgement from the man in charge of the world champions.
Speaking to BILD in Spain, De la Fuente confirmed that Leverkusen's performances are being closely monitored and that Gutiérrez has a genuine opportunity to break into the national team.
"We follow every game of Bayer Leverkusen. We scout all interesting players in all top European leagues. Of course, he has the opportunity to make the jump to the national team. I know him from the youth team."
The comments come at an interesting moment for Gutiérrez, who has made perhaps the strongest possible start to his Leverkusen career.
Signed from Napoli for around €26 million in August, the Spaniard was brought in to replace Alejandro Grimaldo on the left side. Four Bundesliga games into the season, he has already established himself as one of the most productive players in Carles Martinez's side.
Gutiérrez has provided three assists and scored once across his first four league appearances, including a goal and an assist in Die Werkself's 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig. His cross for Patrik Schick's opener was particularly impressive before he added the second himself after the break.
His performances have been strong enough to earn a nomination for the Bundesliga's September Player of the Month award after only four matches.
Gutiérrez himself has already made no secret of his ambitions.
Some days ago, he admitted that representing Spain at the senior level is one of his major objectives, while acknowledging the difficulty of breaking into a squad that has just won the World Cup.
That competition remains the biggest obstacle.
Gutiérrez is competing for a place with established options, including Marc Cucurella and former Leverkusen defender Grimaldo. De la Fuente specifically acknowledged that there is currently "a lot of competition" for the position.
But the latest comments from Spain's coach make one thing clear: Gutiérrez is being watched.
For the club, that is another indication of just how quickly their new left-back has adapted. He has not simply filled the vacancy left by Grimaldo. His attacking output, ability to operate inside and outside, and confidence in possession have made him one of the early talking points of Die Werkself's season.
Now, with de la Fuente confirming that the door is open, Gutiérrez has another target to chase.
And if his first four Bundesliga games are any indication, his performances at Leverkusen may make it increasingly difficult for Spain to ignore him.
