By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Xabi recommends Grimaldo for Spanish national team

Speaking at his Sunday press conference, Bayer 04 Leverkusen trainer Xabi Alonso recommended veteran left-wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo for the Spanish national team. 
Article image
Photo: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Just as he did in a massive match against the German record champions two weeks ago, 28-year-old Spanish fullback/wingback Alejandro Grimaldo lifted his team at precisely the right moment with a set-piece screamer in a match yesterday. The former Spanish youth international's current Spanish trainer has great reason to be pleased with the player acquired on a free by his Bundesliga club this offseason.

The long-time SL Benfica professional has pocketed three assists in addition to his two league goals. Grimaldo also recorded an assist in Leverkusen's cup match and turned in a solid performance in the Europa League. A player who has not represented his native country since his last Spain U21 call-up seven years ago is very much a hot topic in German footballing circles.

Xabi expressed surprise that Grimaldo has yet to be capped at senior level during his Sunday morning press conference. In words clearly aimed at Spanish national team trainer Luis de la Fuenta, the Leverkusen gaffer praised all aspects of Grimaldo's game. Xabi emphasized that the wingback's defending was just as important as his free-kicks.

"I can't explain why he hasn't played for Spain yet, but I would endorse it," Xabi said, "Grimaldo totally deserves a call-up. If he carries on like this, he'll be invited to the national team. I certainly hope he is."

Bundesliga news

Borussia DortmundRicken voices support for Sahin and Kehl
Mainz 05Henriksen allays Burkardt injury fears
Rumor Hamburger SVVan Nistelrooy linked with HSV job
Bayer 04 LeverkusenLeverkusen CEO addresses Wirtz and Alonso speculation
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11First-half flurry guides Gladbach past toothless St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FSV Mainz 05Da Costa praises Bell's defensive direction: "He leads us for the full 90 minutes."
Rumor Stuttgart & HoffenheimKicker Report: Stuttgart reignite interest in Bruun Larsen
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Mainz easily dispatch harmless Kiel, move up to seventh place
Other FC AugsburgAugsburg praise Matsima's development: "A jewel!"
Other Hamburger SVHSV sack Steffen Baumgart
Other Bayer 04 LeverkusenConfirmed: Terrier done for 2024 with forearm fracture
Post-match reaction Eintracht FrankfurtGötze reflects on Frankfurt role: "I feel like the grandpa here."
Rumor TSG 1899 HoffenheimHoffenheim plan to dump Grillitsch, Sky reports

Table

Kickfieber

Match days

Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11First-half flurry guides Gladbach past toothless St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FSV Mainz 05Da Costa praises Bell's defensive direction: "He leads us for the full 90 minutes."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Mainz easily dispatch harmless Kiel, move up to seventh place
Post-match reaction Eintracht FrankfurtGötze reflects on Frankfurt role: "I feel like the grandpa here."
Post-match reaction 1. FC HeidenheimSchmidt cites Pieringer injury as reason for loss
Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBBrandt credits DFB training work for set-piece stunner
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartDiehl on first Bundesliga goal: "Still at a loss for words."
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimBruun Larsen after scoring late winner: "I'm available when needed."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Götze fulfills Toppmöller's birthday wish as Eintracht join title race
Other Bayer 04 LeverkusenLeverkusen fear Terrier has suffered serious hand injury
Other RB LeipzigRose and Schäfer after latest defeat: "We must find the solutions together."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 1115:30 Kickoffs: Leverkusen, Hoffenheim, Dortmund, Stuttgart, and Wolfsburg all victorious
Preview Borussia Mönchengladbach, St. PauliBorussia Mönchengladbach vs St. Pauli preview: Hosts look to continue home run
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany after Bayern's 3-0 win over Augsburg: "I'm never satisfied"
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgAugsburg pleased with defensive display despite 3-0 defeat
Borussia DortmundGuirassy reportedly a big doubt for Dortmund's clash with Freiburg
Post-match reaction BayernKane after converting 25 straight penalties: "Practice is the time to miss."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 11Another Kane "Lupenreiner" lifts Bayern over Augsburg
Other Holstein KielRapp declares Holtby fit enough to start against Mainz
Other FSV Mainz 05Henriksen likely to stick with Bell despite return of Jenz and Hanche-Olsen
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller ahead of another Götze milestone match: "I expect him to score again."
Preview Bayer Leverkusen, HeidenheimBayer Leverkusen vs Heidenheim preview: Champions in need of post-international reset
Preview Wolfsburg, Union BerlinWolfsburg vs Union Berlin preview: Die Wölfe look to keep unbeaten run
Other RB LeipzigRose reveals Seiwald could fill in at right-back

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Other BayernShakhtar lowers ticket prices in response to threatened boycott
Match report UEFA Conference LeagueFrank Schmidt's tactical tweaks guide Heidenheim past Hearts
Match report UEFA Europa LeagueTohumcu's late strike salvages a point for Hoffenheim
Match report UEFA Europa LeagueMarmoush to the fore as Frankfurt overcome Slavia Praha
Preview UEFA Europa LeagueConfirmed lineups: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Slavia Praha
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany: "It's important to win like this sometimes"
Post-match reaction FC BayernMusiala reacts to victory over Benfica: "We all knew we had to win"
Match report FC BayernDominant Bayern edge past resilient Benfica
Match report VfB StuttgartLookman strikes again as Atalanta defeat Stuttgart
Other VfB StuttgartConfirmed lineups: Stuttgart vs. Atalanta
FC BayernConfirmed lineups: Bayern Munich vs. Benfica
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSahin "expects more" from Malen
TSG HoffenheimMatarazzo says Lyon clash will be a "special game"
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundDortmund "on the right path" after Sturm Graz win, says Kehl
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on Liverpool loss: "60 minutes is not enough to win a game at this level"
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner says Leipzig players need to "look in the mirror" after Celtic defeat
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenXhaka reacts to Liverpool defeat: "We conceded goals too easily"
Match report Borussia DortmundMalen magic delivers victory for Dortmund
Match report RB LeipzigKühn bags brace as Celtic add to Leipzig's European worries
Match report Bayer 04 LeverkusenLiverpool sink Leverkusen on Alonso's return to Anfield
RB LeipzigConfirmed lineups: Celtic vs. RB Leipzig
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz
Bayer 04 LeverkusenConfirmed lineups: Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 LeverkusenTerrier ruled out of Leverkusen's match against Liverpool
VfB StuttgartMittelstädt says Stuttgart are "extremely excited" ahead of Atalanta clash

DFB-Pokal

Other RB LeipzigLeipzig confirm investigation into alleged Nazi salute in stadium
Other DFB PokalDFB-Pokal draw: Kane receives direct crack at Leverkusen, Leipzig host Frankfurt, Kohfeldt heads back to Bremen
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimTSG praise summer signings Chaves and Tabakovic after win: "We've stabilized."
Other Eintracht FrankfurtDFB confirms two-match cup suspension for Theate
Eintracht FrankfurtMarmoush opens up about spectacular mask celebration
Mainz & Bayern"The referee was wearing a Bayern shirt" – Mainz defender slams officiating after DFB-Pokal defeat
Match report DFB-Pokal20:45 Pokal Kickoffs: Musiala minces Mainz, Bielefeld knock out Union, Hoffenheim advance
Match report DfB PokalDucksch breaks Paderborn hearts as Bremen secure last-16 berth
Match report DfB PokalHertha Berlin spring upset as Heidenheim's Pokal dreams end in controversy
Match report DfB PokalFreiburg's first-half surge sees off HSV
Match report DfB PokalMarmoush the joker as 10-man Frankfurt eliminate Gladbach
Mainz & BayernNadiem Amiri: "You definitely have respect for Bayern again"
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgDahmen after successful 2024/25 debut: "I showed the coach he can count on me."
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartFührich comments on 2024/25 form: "I haven't met my standards."
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigBaumgartner on Leipzig success despite injuries: "All this crap has brought us closer together."
Match report DFB POKALWind's late winner secures Wolfsburg win vs Dortmund
Match report DFB POKALStuttgart see off Kaiserslautern, Köln ease past Kiel and Regensburg survive red card
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenRolfes critical of Leverkusen's performance despite 3-0 win
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAleix Garcia eager for more minutes after scoring in the cup
Preview Eintracht & GladbachEintracht Frankfurt vs. Gladbach preview: Team news and predicted lineups
MainzHenriksen and Mainz not "afraid" of Bayern
Match report DfB PokalAugsburg advance past Schalke, Karlsruhe eliminate Kickers Offenbach
Match report DfB PokalLeipzig see off St.Pauli in six-goal Pokal thriller
Match report DfB PokalLeverkusen make light work of Elversberg
Other Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller draws comparison to Özil in explaining Chaibi's form dip: "A matter of body language."

German National Team

Other Wolfsburg & DFBBaku takes the SEAL path: "Discipline is the bridge between goals and their realization."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBBrandt credits DFB training work for set-piece stunner
DFBUEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off draw: Germany learn opponents
Werder Bremen & DFBZetterer confirms contact with the German Football Association
Rumor DFBReport: DFB in talks with Nagelsmann over new contract
DFBCeltic star reveals dream of playing for Germany at the World Cup in 2026
DFBMusiala and Nagelsmann bemoan Wirtz's "stupid" yellow-card suspension
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann after Hungary draw: "I don't want to talk about the game"
Opinion DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Post-match reaction DFB Andrich after Hungary penalty draw: "Where should his hand go?"
Match report DFBGermany U21s conclude undefeated calendar year with draw in France
DFBConfirmed lineups: Hungary vs. Germany
DFBNagelsmann hints at starting spot for "world-class" Sané
DFBNagelsmann confirms plan to rotate heavily against Hungary
Preview DFBHungary vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann and Kleindienst delighted after Bosnia-Herzegovina win
Post-match reaction DFBMusiala reacts to Germany's thumping of Bosnia-Herzegovina: "That was fun!"
Opinion DFBGermany player ratings against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBUnstoppable Germany roll over Bosnia-Herzegovina to seal top spot
DFB Confirmed lineups: Germany vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
Match report DFBGermany U21s now unbeaten in 12 after victory over Denmark in test fixture
DFBNagelsmann gives update on Wirtz and confirms goalkeeping decision
DFBKleindienst blown away by 'Wusiala': "Sometimes I don't think I'm a fantastic footballer"
DFBStiller ruled out of Germany's games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary
DFBWirtz and Stiller still missing from Germany training

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