España’s Sub‑20 call‑up pushes Argentine‑born Pezzolesi towards La Roja

While the Argentine Football Association has been monitoring the 19‑year‑old right‑back for a possible South American Games slot, España’s Sub‑20 coach Paco Gallardo has already handed him a Wednesday friendly against México, a move that narrows his path to the Albiceleste.

Olé reported the development, noting that the call‑up arrives just months before the Mundial final, adding another blow to the Selección Argentina’s talent pool.

Spain’s Sub‑20 invitation

Valentín Alejandro Pezzolesi received the official summons from Paco Gallardo to join La Roja’s Sub‑20 side for the friendly versus México this Este miércoles. The youngster, who already featured for Spain’s Juvenil teams, accepted the invitation, echoing his 2025 debut with the Sub‑19 squad.

Spain’s federation confirmed the selection on its channels, highlighting Pezzolesi’s progress in the Primera de Las Palmas and his eligibility through birth in Spain despite his Argentine lineage.

Club and heritage

Pezzolesi signed for Las Palmas in 2022 after early footballing steps in Tenerife; he has amassed 25 appearances and scored once for the La Liga 2 side. His parents, Argentine immigrants from Barracas, raised him in Spain where he developed his game.

The AFA tracked him throughout 2026, hoping to involve him in the Sub‑19 South American Games and the Sub‑20 South American Championship slated for January 2027. However, the clash with the club season and a non‑FIFA date eliminated that possibility.

On social media the defender posted, “Muy contento por mi debut con España y por esta experiencia única. Agradecido por esta oportunidad y por poder representar a España. Muy contento de seguir sumando experiencias.”

With the Spanish call‑up now official, the chance of Pezzolesi ever wearing the Albiceleste appears increasingly remote, underscoring how España’s youth programme can sway dual‑national talents.