Alejandro Grimaldo says he will eventually return to La Liga

Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo has once again stoked transfer talk ahead of his first World Cup, reiterating his long-term wish to play in La Liga. Speaking during a media day with the Spanish national team, the 30-year-old said returning to Spain "is one of my goals" and that "eventually I will do so." Grimaldo left Barcelona's La Masia years ago and has since established himself as one of the game’s leading attacking full-backs.

Now a key figure and vice-captain at Leverkusen, he remains under contract until 2027, making him a prized asset for the German champions. Despite success with Benfica and Leverkusen, he has never played in Spain's top flight after leaving Barcelona B for Portugal in 2016.

In an interview with AS he stressed that playing for a big club in Spain "remains my goal," adding that if it does not happen now "it will still be my goal next year, and if not, then the year after." Links to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico have surfaced before, but talks did not develop into moves.

Spain, Leverkusen

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