Spain call up three Valencians: Ferran Torres, Grimaldo, Josep Martínez | OneFootball

Image of Josep Martínez, Ferran Torres and Alejandro Grimaldo

The Valencian Community will have three representatives in Spain’s first squad announcement after winning the 2026 World Cup. Luis de la Fuente has called up Ferran Torres, Alejandro Grimaldo and Josep Martínez for the four Nations League matches that the national team will play between September 26 and October 6.

The main new Valencian name is Josep Martínez. The goalkeeper from Alzira is included in the squad after missing out on the World Cup, having now established himself as the first-choice keeper at Inter Milan. This season he has played the full 90 minutes in the first four Serie A matches, and the Italian side is tied on 12 points with Roma at the top of the table.

Even so, Martínez already played for the senior national team on June 8, 2021 in a 4-0 win over Lithuania at Butarque. On that day, the under-21 team had to stand in for the senior side after Luis Enrique’s squad was quarantined following Sergio Busquets’ positive COVID-19 test. The goalkeeper came on in the second half, and that match officially counted as a senior international.

UEFA Nations League

During this international break, Spain will face four matches in just eleven days. They will make their debut against England at Wembley on September 26, host Croatia in Seville on the 29th, and play the Czech Republic in Oviedo on October 3. The schedule will conclude on October 6 with another meeting against Croatia, this time in Split.

Ferran returns after making history

Ferran Torres, from Foios, returns to a Spain squad just two months after becoming the hero of the second star. The forward decided the World Cup final against Argentina with the only goal of the match in the 106th minute of extra time.

The attacker, now at Paris Saint-Germain, thus keeps his place in De la Fuente’s team. Spain will compete again for the first time since that final on July 19, and will do so now as two-time world champions.

Alejandro Grimaldo, born in La Pobla de Vallbona, completes the Valencian representation. The Atlético de Madrid full-back was also part of the squad that won the World Cup and is once again among the players chosen by the national coach.

Grimaldo played a more discreet role during the tournament than Ferran, but he still ended up lifting the World Cup as a member of the champion national team. His international record also includes the European Championship won by Spain in 2024.

Valencia wants to honor Ferran and Grimaldo

The squad announcement comes two days after Valencia City Council proposed naming Ferran Torres and Alejandro Grimaldo adoptive sons of the city for their careers and for being part of the world champion national team.

The recognition for Ferran especially highlights his goal in the final against Argentina, while in Grimaldo’s case it values his connection to Valencia’s youth academy and his sporting career. The presentation is scheduled for October 6, precisely coinciding with the last match of this international window.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.