The 17-year-old central defender plays for FC Barcelona’s Juvenil A squad.
Diego Almeida Crespo is only 17 years old, but he has already caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, although he has a contract with FC Barcelona until June 30, 2023.
A training session with the Barça first team under the leadership of coach Xavi Hernández has made Spanish and Ecuadorian journalists focus their attention on him again and wonder if the Carles Puyol admirer will choose to play for the South American country’s team or if It will continue its growth process in La Roja.
⚠️???????? The youth Diego Almeida enters for the first time in the squad of the absolute of Ecuador. The center-back will debut in the friendly against El Salvador on December 5 #FCBMasia pic.twitter.com/hqhu8N3UD4
— Albert Rogé (@albert_roge) November 26, 2021
That Diego Almeida Crespo, born in Rubí (Catalunya), plays for Ecuador “will be decided by Gustavo Alfaro,” the family environment of the young defender of Juvenil A of the #FCBarcelona. It would seem that they are convincing him. https://t.co/CvCLxBgSVp
– Alejandro Fierro (@ alefierro_87) November 26, 2021
Almeida, from Juvenil A of FC Barcelona, is considered one of the most promising footballers in the Barça youth academy.
Born in Rubí (Catalonia), but of Ecuadorian parents, the central defender has been international for Spain in all the lower categories from the sub-15 to the sub-18. He was also part of a microcycle with the Tricolor in August 2018 when he was called up by the U-15 and played at least two verification matches at the Fedenador facilities, in Guayaquil.
His emergence in Blaugrana grassroots football has also aroused PSG interest in taking him out of Barcelona. On November 17, the digital version of the newspaper Sport de Barcelona pointed out that the Parisian team “has tempted the player with a great offer that improves the record” that he has at FC Barcelona. And he has said that there is an alleged interest from Italy.
Summoned for friendly of Ecuador
Diego Almeida Crespo could continue playing with Spain, since it is his country of birth, or with Ecuador, which on Friday night reported his first call-up with the absolute team with a view to the international friendly on December 4 against El Salvador in the American city of Houston.
“That has to be decided (Gustavo) Alfaro”, announced on November 18 to EL UNIVERSO a person from the family environment of the culé defender.
Until before this, Diego Almeida was only a Spanish citizen. But this Saturday the Consulate General of Ecuador in Barcelona reported that the 17-year-old is already Ecuadorian.
“The soccer player Diego Almeida, player of FC Barcelona (Juvenil A), is officially Ecuadorian when he made his due registration of nationality at the facilities of the Consulate General of Ecuador in Barcelona,” said that office through its Twitter account.
As EL UNIVERSO learned in 2018, Almeida had not processed his Ecuadorian nationality, but with the convocation of the Greater Tricolor it was necessary to do so. His closest environment revealed that the diligence took place on Friday, November 26.
The Ecuadorian Spanish defender will join Gustavo Alfaro’s work directly in Houston (Texas) traveling from Spain. (D)
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