Álex Grimaldo
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alejandro Grimaldo García | ||
Date of birth | 20 September 1995 | ||
Place of birth | Valencia, Spain | ||
Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Left wing-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Bayer Leverkusen | ||
Number | 20 | ||
Youth career | |||
Atlético Valbonense | |||
2006–2008 | Valencia | ||
2008–2012 | Barcelona | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2016 | Barcelona B | 92 | (6) |
2016–2023 | Benfica | 197 | (19) |
2023– | Bayer Leverkusen | 5 | (2) |
International career | |||
2011 | Spain U16 | 2 | (0) |
2011–2012 | Spain U17 | 8 | (1) |
2012–2014 | Spain U19 | 9 | (0) |
2013–2016 | Spain U21 | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 September 2023 |
Alejandro "Álex" Grimaldo García (born 20 September 1995) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
Club career
Barcelona
Born in Valencia, Valencian Community, Grimaldo joined Barcelona's youth system in 2008. He made his official debut for the B-team on 4 September 2011, starting in a 4–0 away win against Cartagena at the age of 15 years and 349 days and becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a Segunda División game, before he was surpassed by Lamine Yamal in 2023.[2][3]
On 23 February 2013, Grimaldo suffered a serious knee injury, being ruled out for the remainder of the season.[4] He returned to action in January of the following year,[5] appearing in 14 matches to help his team finish in third position.
On 13 September 2014, Grimaldo scored his first professional goal, netting his side's last in a 3–2 success at Alavés.[6] In a campaign which saw the team relegated, he netted four times in 36 matches; he and Sergi Palencia were sent off on 25 April 2015, in a 2–1 win over Ponferradina at the Mini Estadi.[7]
Benfica
On 29 December 2015, as his contract was about to expire,[8] Grimaldo signed with Portuguese champions Benfica until 2021, for €1.5 million. Barcelona has the right to a percentage of a future sale.[9]
Grimaldo played his first game with his new team on 26 January 2016, coming in as a 62nd-minute substitute for Sílvio in a 6–1 away routing of Moreirense for the Taça da Liga.[10] He debuted in the Primeira Liga on 29 February, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 home win against União da Madeira;[11] he only appeared once more in the latter competition until the end of the season, filling in for suspended Eliseu[12] in a 4–1 success over Nacional also at the Estádio da Luz that sealed the club's third consecutive national championship.[13] He remained in the team for the league cup final on 20 May, the 6–2 defeat of Marítimo at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra.[14]
Grimaldo's first full season began on 7 August 2016, as he started in a 3–0 win against Braga for the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in Aveiro, assisting Franco Cervi for the opening goal.[15] On 2 October he scored his first goal for the club, a free kick to conclude a 4–0 home triumph over Feirense;[16] on 28 May 2017, he played the full 90 minutes in the final of the Taça de Portugal, won after defeating Vitória de Guimarães 2–1.[17]
Grimaldo's maiden appearance in the UEFA Champions League took place on 13 September 2016, when he played the entire 1–1 group stage home draw to Beşiktaş.[18] His first goal in the competition came during the same stage but on 2 October 2018, in a 3–2 away win over AEK Athens;[19] he repeated the feat against the latter opponent on 12 December in the return fixture, his 30-meter free kick in the 88th minute helping to a 1–0 victory.[20]
Bayer Leverkusen
On 21 May 2023, Grimaldo signed a four-year contract with German club Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer.[21] On 12 August, he made his debut in a DFB-Pokal match against FC Teutonia Ottensen.[22] On 15 September 2023, he scored his first goal for the club, a direct free kick from the edge of the box away at Bayern Munich.
International career
Grimaldo won his first cap for the Spain under-21 team on 5 February 2013 – before he had turned 18 – playing the second half of a 1–1 friendly draw in Belgium.[23]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Barcelona B | 2011–12 | Segunda División | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
2012–13 | Segunda División | 24 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||||
2013–14 | Segunda División | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||||
2014–15 | Segunda División | 36 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 4 | |||||
2015–16 | Segunda División B | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 2 | |||||
Total | 92 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 92 | 6 | ||||||
Benfica | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | — | 54 | 7 | ||
2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 26 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 1 | |
2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 31 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | — | 48 | 6 | ||
2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 2 | — | 54 | 8 | ||
Total | 197 | 19 | 25 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 66 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 303 | 27 | ||
Bayer Leverkusen | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | ||
Career total | 289 | 25 | 26 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 66 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 396 | 33 |
Honours
Benfica
- Primeira Liga: 2015–16,[13] 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–23[26]
- Taça de Portugal: 2016–17
- Taça da Liga: 2015–16[27]
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2016,[24] 2017,[28] 2019[29]
Spain
Individual
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2012[31]
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2018–19[32]
- Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2018–19,[33] 2022–23[34]
- Primeira Liga Defender of the Month: December/January 2023,[35] February 2023[36]
References
- ^ "Grimaldo". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ García, Gregorio (4 September 2011). "Vuelve el mejor Barça B con un festival goleador en Cartagonova" [The best Barça B return with a scoring festival in Cartagonova]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ Gascón, Javier (5 September 2011). "Alejandro Grimaldo, la seducción de un lateral de 15 años" [Alejandro Grimaldo, the allure of a 15-year-old fullback]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Alejandro Grimaldo sufre una rotura del ligamento cruzado anterior y del ligamento lateral externo de la rodilla" [Alejandro Grimaldo suffers an anterior cruciate ligament and a lateral collateral injury] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Grimaldo vuelve ante el Mirandés... y Masip se queda fuera" [Grimaldo returns against Mirandés... and Masip stays out]. Sport (in Spanish). 18 January 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "El Barça B se lleva los tres puntos con susto final" [Barça B take the three points with a final scare]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Una genialidad de Munir da aire a un filial que acabó con nueve" [Genius from Munir gives air to a reserve team which finished with nine]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 April 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Nogueira, Carlos (18 December 2015). "Grimaldo ruma à Luz por um milhão de euros" [Grimaldo heads to Luz for one million euros]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ ""Tenho muita ambição em crescer neste clube"" [I have a lot of ambition of growing in this club] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Classe e magia no check-in para as "meias"" [Class and magic in "semis" check-in] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Quem tem um Jonas, tem tudo" [He who has a Jonas, has everything] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ^ "Gaitán volta com Talisca e Grimaldo no onze" [Gaitán returns with Talisca and Grimaldo in XI]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 14 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Génio de Gaitán dá o 'tri' ao Benfica" [Gaitán genius gives ‘tri’ to Benfica] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "Benfica continua a ser o rei da Taça da Liga" [Benfica are still League Cup kings] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "El Benfica campeón de la Supercopa gracias a Cervi y Pizzi" [Benfica are Supercup champions thanks to Cervi and Pizzi]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 8 August 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Benfica goleia o Feirense" [Benfica thrash Feirense]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 2 October 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Oito minutos à Benfica garantiram a 11.ª dobradinha" [Eight Benfica-like minutes confirmed 11th double]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ "Talisca, o dispensado, roubou uma vitória que parecia certa" [Talisca, the surplus, robbed almost certain win]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 September 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ Béu, Mariana (2 October 2018). "Benfica com triunfo sofrido sobre o AEK (3–2). Seferovic e Grimaldo marcaram, gregos empataram e Alfa Semedo resolveu – como aconteceu" [Benfica with hard-fought win over AEK (3–2). Seferovic and Grimaldo scored, Greek drew and Alfa Semedo decided it – how it happened]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ Celso, Marcos (12 December 2018). "Benfica vence AEK de Atenas com grande golo de Grimaldo" [Benfica beat AEK Athens with great Grimaldo goal] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Bayer 04 sign Grimaldo from Benfica". BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN. 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- ^ "Leverkusen bezwingt Ottensen klar und deutlich" (in German). sportschau.de. 12 August 2023.
- ^ Villalobos, Fran (5 February 2013). "España invierte en su futuro" [Spain invest in their future]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b Álex Grimaldo at Soccerway
- ^ Álex Grimaldo at ForaDeJogo (archived). Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ Kundert, Tom (27 May 2023). "Benfica crowned champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Depois do "tri", o "hepta". Benfica goleia e vence Taça da Liga" [After "tri", "hepta". Benfica rout and win League Cup] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Benfica vence V. Guimarães (3–1) e faz a festa em Aveiro" [Benfica defeat V. Guimarães (3–1) and get the party started in Aveiro]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 5 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ Benfica 5–0 Sporting Lisbon Soccerway
- ^ "La sub´19, campeona de Europa" [The under-19s, European champions]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). 15 July 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ "Technical report" (PDF). UEFA. p. 13. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "UEFA Europa League Squad of the 2018/19 Season". UEFA.com. 30 May 2019.
- ^ "Vencedores dos Prémios Oficiais da Liga Portugal 2018-2019". Liga Portugal. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ "11 do Ano fechado com avançado do SC Braga (fotogaleria) (Liga)". A Bola (in Portuguese). 25 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Grimaldo distinguido com o Prémio de Defesa do Mês da Liga Portugal bwin" [Grimaldo distinguished with Liga Portugal bwin' Defender of the Month Award]. Liga Portugal (in European Portuguese). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Grimaldo wins February Defender of the Month in Liga Portugal bwin". Liga Portugal. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
External links
- Profile at the S.L. Benfica website
- Álex Grimaldo at BDFutbol
- Álex Grimaldo at Futbolme (in Spanish)
- Álex Grimaldo – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 1995 births
- Living people
- Spanish men's footballers
- Footballers from Valencia
- Men's association football defenders
- Men's association football fullbacks
- Segunda División players
- Segunda División B players
- FC Barcelona Atlètic players
- Primeira Liga players
- S.L. Benfica footballers
- Bundesliga players
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen players
- Spain men's youth international footballers
- Spain men's under-21 international footballers
- Spanish expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
- Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Portugal