World Cup 2022: Spain must replace Gayà – Balde from FC Barcelona moves up

Spain nominated Barças Balde

José Gayà will miss the World Cup in Qatar. After an ankle injury in training, the left-back said goodbye to the Spanish national team, as announced on Friday. According to a statement, the 27-year-old sustained an injury on Wednesday, after which coach Luis Enrique, after consulting the medical staff, decided to replace the Valencia player. Alejandro Balde from FC Barcelona takes his place.

Dream burst for Nkunku, Werner & Co: These players miss the World Cup injured

The list of confirmed failures is getting longer..

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Gallery as of November 18, 2022

Christopher Nkunku (France/RB Leipzig) | Market value: €80 million

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Reece James (England/Chelsea) | Market value: €70 million

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Wesley Fofana (France/Chelsea) | Market value: €65 million

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Sadio Mané (Senegal/FC Bayern) | Market value: €60 million

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Diogo Jota (Portugal/Liverpool) | Market value: €55 million

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Presnel Kimpembe (France/PSG) | Market value: €40 million

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José Gayà (Spain/Valencia) | Market value: €40 million

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Emile Smith Rowe (England/Arsenal) | Market value: €38 million

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Ben Chilwell (England/Chelsea) | Market value: €38 million

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Paul Pogba (France/Juventus) | Market value: €35 million

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Mike Maignan (France/Milan) | Market value: €35 million

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Pedro Neto (Portugal/Wolverhampton) | Market value: €32 million

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N’Golo Kante (France/Chelsea) | Market value: €30 million

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Timo Werner (Germany/RB Leipzig) | Market value: €25 million

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Nicolás González (Argentina/Fiorentina) | Market value: €23 million

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Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina/Villarreal) | Market value: €22 million

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Joaquín Correa (Argentina/Inter Milan) | Market value: €20 million

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Florian Neuhaus (Germany/Gladbach) | Market value: €20 million

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Lukas Nmecha (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg) | Market value: €18 million

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Arthur Melo (Brazil/Liverpool) | Market value: €18 million

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Moussa Niakhate (Senegal/Nottingham) | Market value: €18 million

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Tecatito (Mexico/FC Sevilla) | Market value: €14 million

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Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/AS Roma) | Market value: €12 million

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Bartlomiej Dragowski (Poland/Spezia Calcio) | Market value: €4.5 million

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Yvon Mvogo (Switzerland/FC Lorient) | Market value: €3.5 million

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Maxime Crepeau (Canada/Los Angeles FC) | Market value: €3 million

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Bouna Sarr (Senegal/FC Bayern) | Market value: €2.5 million

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In fact, Gayà was only slightly injured. The association’s website mentions a “slight lateral sprain of his right ankle”. But coach Enrique claims that all 26 nominated players are in the best physical condition. The most valuable full-back in the Spaniard team by far, with a market value of 40 million euros, was then given courage. He deserved an appearance at the tournament. His early departure was “the worst news” that overtook the “Selección” before the World Cup. The 18-time national player has already started his return journey to Spain.

Successor Balde, who trained at Barça and only turned professional there this year, has not yet played a senior international match for Spain. However, the 19-year-old has established himself as a regular for the Catalans this season, playing not only on the left but also on the right side of defence. With his nomination, Barça replaces FC Bayern as the team with the most World Cup releases. Sadio Mané from Munich recently had to cancel his participation in the World Cup.

Top 20: Clubs with the most releases for the 2022 World Cup

Liverpool FC | 7 abandoned players | Total value: €345 million

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Average market value: €49.29 million
Most valuable player: Trent Alexander-Arnold (€70m, England)

Club Brugge | 8 abandoned players | Total value: €79.6 million

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Average market value: €9.95 million
Most valuable player: Andreas Skov Olsen (€20m, Denmark)

Rennes FC | 8 abandoned players | Total value: €97.5 million

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Average market value: €12.19 million
Most valuable player: Lovro Majer (€22m, Croatia)

Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 abandoned players | Total value: €176 million

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Average market value: €22 million
Most valuable player: Moisés Caicedo (€38m, Ecuador)

Sevilla FC | 10 abandoned players | Total value: €95 million

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Average market value: €9.5 million
Most valuable player: Bono (€15m, Morocco)

Arsenal | 10 abandoned players | Total value: €446 million

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Average market value: €44.6 million
Most valuable player: Bukayo Saka (€90m, England)

Ajax Amsterdam | 11 retired players | Total value: €181.25 million

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Average market value: €16.48 million
Most valuable player: Jurrien Timber (€45m, Netherlands)

Juventus | 11 retired players | Total value: €247.5 million

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Average market value: €22.5 million
Most valuable player: Dušan Vlahović (€80m, Serbia)

Borussia Dortmund | 11 retired players | Total value: €356.5 million

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Average market value: €32.41 million
Most valuable player: Jude Bellingham (€100m, England)

Tottenham Hotspur | 11 retired players | Total value: €432 million

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Average market value: €39.27 million
Most valuable player: Harry Kane (€90m, England)

Paris Saint Germain | 11 retired players | Total value: €597 million

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Average market value: €54.27 million
Most valuable player: Kylian Mbappé (€160m, France)

Al Hilal Saudi FC | 12 retired players | Total value: €11.5 million

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Average market value: €958 thousand
Most valuable player: Salem Al-Dawsari (€1.8m, Saudi Arabia)

Atlético Madrid | 12 retired players | Total value: €324.5 million

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Average market value: €25.86 million
Most valuable player: João Félix (€50m, Portugal)

Chelsea FC | 12 retired players | Total value: €432.5 million

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Average market value: €36.04 million
Most valuable player: Mason Mount (€75m, England)

Madrid | 13 retired players | Total value: €685.5 million

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Average market value: €52.73 million
Most valuable player: Vinicius Junior (€120m, Brazil)

Manchester United | 14 retired players | Total value: €525 million

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Average market value: €37.5 million
Most valuable players: Bruno Fernandes & Antony (€75m each, Portugal/Brazil)

Al Sadd SC | 15 retired players | Total value: €11.5 million

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Average market value: €765 thousand
Most valuable player: Akram Afif (€4m, Qatar)

Bayern Munich | 16 retired players | Total value: €784 million

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Average market value: €49.65 million
Most valuable player: Jamal Musiala (€100m, Germany)

Manchester City | 16 retired players | Total value: €855 million

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Average market value: €53.44 million
Most valuable player: Phil Foden (€110m, England)

FC Barcelona | 17 retired players | Total value: €723 million

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Average market value: €44.25 million
Most valuable player: Pedri (€100m, Spain)

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