Marc Pubill returns to Levante as Atlético’s breakout and Spain hopeful | OneFootball

Marc Pubill returns to the Ciutat de València this weekend as Atlético Madrid’s form defender, his rise under Diego Simeone strengthening his case for Luis de la Fuente’s Spain. Atlético arrive after beating Mallorca to sit third.

According to Superdeporte, it will be the Levante academy graduate’s first match back since his 2023 sale, forced by the club’s finances. He missed previous chances with Almería, first because the teams were in different divisions, then with a medial knee ligament sprain in September 2024.

Raised in Buñol from 2020, Pubill broke through as a right-back, yet Levante staff long viewed him as a centre-half. Simeone has honed that profile, and since José María Giménez’s injury in early December the 1.90m defender has held his place in the middle.

Against Mallorca he shut down Vedat Muriqi, making three interceptions, four clearances and two recoveries, and winning all seven duels, four in the air and three on the ground.

He turned down Barcelona as a youngster, then Espanyol released him at 15 over concerns about growth. After Gimnàstic Manresa he joined Levante, where a contentious play-off final penalty against Alavés and the club’s debts pushed through his exit.

Almería brought a relegation and then a failed promotion, though his level on the right stayed high. He won the 2024 Olympics, Atalanta came close but backed out, and a year later a swift move took him to Atlético, where he is pressing his next World Cup claims.

Source: Superdeporte