Fran García replaces injured Alejandro Grimaldo in Spain squad for Nations League

Squad changes at Las Rozas

Real Betis left-back Fran García joined the Spanish national team camp at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas on Wednesday evening. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente called up the 27-year-old defender from Bolaños de Calatrava following an injury to Atlético Madrid left-back Alejandro Grimaldo. The Royal Spanish Football Federation announced that Grimaldo withdrew from international duty after experiencing discomfort in his left thigh. The 31-year-old former Benfica defender had been an unused substitute in recent victories over England (3-2) and Croatia (4-1), and he had scored in Atlético Madrid's 2-1 league win over Real Madrid before the international break. García arrived in Madrid late Wednesday after Betis training to meet De la Fuente at the team residence ahead of Thursday's morning squad session.

Roster adjustments in the camp

Grimaldo's departure marks the third personnel replacement for Spain during the current international window. Pedro Porro was forced to withdraw before the training camp began, leading to a call-up for Sporting CP defender Iván Fresneda. Central defender Eric García also left the camp due to discomfort in his left knee, which prompted the inclusion of Atlético Madrid defender Robin Le Normand. García expressed satisfaction with his recall to the national squad after completing club duties in Seville.

“It is a huge joy because of the work I am doing day to day, for the effort and the dedication that it entails. It is a reward for everything you build grain by grain.”

International fixtures schedule

Spain travels to Oviedo to face the Czech Republic on Saturday, 3 October 2026, before flying to Split to play Croatia on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Both fixtures are part of the UEFA Nations League group stage, where Spain enters following a 4-1 victory over Croatia at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium in Seville. García previously earned two caps for Spain under De la Fuente in October 2023. He made his senior debut on 13 October 2023 during a 2-0 win over Scotland at Estadio La Cartuja, coming on at the start of the second half, and he started three days later in a 1-0 away victory against Norway.

Summer transfer and Betis form

García moved to Real Betis from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window, having appeared in seven of eight matches for the Seville-based club this season. The defender explained in a radio interview that he decided to leave Madrid after the club completed the signing of Marc Cucurella, which left four players competing for the left-back position. García noted that Real Madrid had made two signings valued between 50 and 60 million euros in the position over the past season, prompting him to seek regular playing time elsewhere. He noted that Betis offered the ideal sporting project and convenient transport connections, located within a one-hour flight or a two-hour high-speed train trip from Madrid.

“I will always be a madridista, I grew up with it from a young age, but I was at Rayo and I was just another rayista, and now I have arrived at Betis and the affection you receive from the people is incredible.”