Alejandro Grimaldo has returned early to Atlético de Madrid after the Spain national team released him from international duty — and the left-back faces a nervous wait for test results to confirm the extent of a possible muscle injury.
Though he did not play
a minute of Spain’s wins over England and Croatia in the UEFA Nations League, Grimaldo could not complete a warm-up rondo on Tuesday before Spain played Croatia at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan in Seville. After the world champions polished off a 4-1 win, manager Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Grimaldo felt a “minor” twinge in one of his quadriceps, and he implied that the 31-year-old would not take part in Spain’s upcoming matches against Czechia and Croatia (again).
To replace Grimaldo, Spain have called up Real Betis’ Fran García for the next two Nations League fixtures.
Grimaldo has started six games in LaLiga this season after he arrived in a €20 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in June. He’s scored two goals — both penalties — and provided one assist as he’s shaken off a tough start to assert himself as an indispensable player for Diego Simeone.
Marca’s Isaac Suárez reported Wednesday that Atlético are cautiously optimistic over Grimaldo’s injury; it might be minor enough that he could play against Alavés in 10 days’ time. However, Simeone and fitness coach Luis Piñedo will take no risks, and it is possible he will sit out the trip to Mendizorroza in order to be ready to face Manchester United in the Metropolitano on Oct. 13 — a game that looks like a must-win for Atleti after the Rojiblancos opened their UEFA Champions League campaign with a loss at Liverpool earlier this month.
We’re likely to find out more on Thursday, but the early indications are positive for Grimaldo, who appears to have avoided a major muscle injury.
