The player may have minutes in La Roja because he is the most powerful full-back in Luis Enrique’s group
“I still can’t believe he’s here. I dedicate it to the people who have always been there”, said the player
It came unexpectedly, but it does so with all the enthusiasm and ambition in the world. Álex Balde has already stepped on the grass with the Spanish team and his feelings are good. The Barça full-back is in exceptional shape and he showed it like that. And the challenge for him now is to become the unexpected sensation of La Roja, as Gavi or Pedri were in the last official competitions. Balde is clear that he is going to have the opportunity because he is the most powerful full-back in the group.
Balde, who had landed in Doha on Saturday afternoon, has already placed himself under the orders of Luis Enrique at the facilities of the University of Qatar. He completed the morning training without complications, despite the long journey the day before. Balde was concentrated in Seville with the sub-21 when he learned that he would have to join the absolute: he traveled from Seville to Barcelona, and from the Catalan capital to Doha.
“I still can’t believe I’m here. My mobile is bursting with messages. I dedicate it to the people I love and it has always been there”, explained the player in the official RFEF media. “I want to thank all the people who have helped me to be here. Especially to my family, who are in my day to day and keep my feet on the ground. I have spoken with Nico Williams, who I get along very well, and with Ansu. I really want to be with them & rdquor ;, said Balde.
Although the Barça footballer was scheduled to appear before the media after his first training session, his schedule prevented him from doing so: playing in a World Cup is a privilege, but it also entails a series of obligations for the players, such as medical check-ups and a review of the documentation prior to the start of the tournament. Balde had to fulfill various commitments with FIFA yesterday, so he could not sit in front of the media.
The big surprise?
From now on, Balde knows that he will have to fight to earn a position. It is very unlikely that he will have minutes in the debut against Costa Rica, but Luis Enrique is a coach who moves a lot by sensations in training and Balde has been a motorcycle for months. In fact, Xavi Hernández has given him ownership, making him the defender with the most minutes on the team and that is not an easy task. He can play in various positions on the field and in games that get complicated he can be an important revulsion. It could be the big surprise.
The other side of the coin had a name and surname, those of José Luis Gayà. The Valencian had to leave the team with a regretful gesture due to the injury he suffered in training prior to Jordan-Spain. Some information pointed out that the player could have even played the first World Cup match -on Wednesday against Costa Rica-, because the sprain he suffered was slight, but neither the player nor Valencia spoke out.
Gayà did go to social networks to send a message of support to his colleagues. “I want to thank you for all the messages of support that I have received in the last few hours.. I honestly don’t know if I deserve so much love. It is not easy to assimilate that one of your dreams as a child is ruined by a slight sprain & rdquor ;, she pointed out.