Barcelona teenage star Alejandro Balde is called up to the Spain squad to replace the injured Jose Gaya… with the left-back now in line to make his international debut in Qatar
Spain have confirmed Barcelona’s 19-year-old Alejandro Balde’s call-up to their World Cup squad after Jose Gaya was forced to withdraw because of injury.
Valencia left-back Gaya has had to pull out with an ankle sprain that had ruled him out for 10 days.
And Luis Enrique has turned to Balde who has impressed for Barcelona this season and was with the Spain Under 21 group in Seville preparing for a match against Japan when Gaya’s injury opened the door to him for his first big tournament.
Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has been given a last-minute call-up to the Spanish national team
Balde’s inclusion in the squad for Qatar takes the tally of Under 21s from Barcelona to four.
Barcelona now have 17 players at the World Cup but it is the young ones under with Spain catching the attention.
It’s almost a quartet of teenagers: midfielders Gavi and Pedri are 18 and 19 respectively, and striker Ansu Fati only turned 20 two weeks ago.
Valencia left-back Jose Gaya (right) suffered a sprained ankle in training on Wednesday
Luis Enrique was at first optimistic about Gaya’s chances but the prospect of being without him for 10 days rang the alarm bells.
Balde will join Jordi Alba as Spain’s left-back options
If Jordi Alba were to get injured he would be left without a left-back for the vital second group game against Germany.
Balde has been a revelation for Barcelona this season filling in at both left and right back in 13 starts.
There is tough competition for places at left-back but he had moved ahead of both Marcos Alonso and Jordi Alba in the pecking order before a crisis at right back encouraged Xavi to move him to the other flank.
Spain could have waited until Tuesday to make a decision – 24-hours ahead of their opener against Costa Rica – but they have elected to make the tough call now and send Gaya home.
Balde had been tipped to be a surprise in Luis Enrique’s 26-man squad, as it is he becomes his first replacement call-up.
Balde would become the eighth Barca player in former manager Luis Enrique’s 26-man squad
