Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera has been handed a maiden call-up by the senior Spain side.
Mosquera has 14 caps for the Spain Under-21s but there have been questions over whether he would represent the country at senior level as he also holds a Colombian passport.
The 21-year-old has featured 25 times for Arsenal this season, having joined from Valencia for around £13million ($17.3m) in the summer, acting primarily as back-up to first-choice centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel. He previously made 90 appearances for the La Liga side.
“When I was 14 or 15, Spain contacted me,” Mosquera told The Athletic in October. “At that time, I don’t remember having any conversations with Colombia. For now, I’ve continued my normal process with Spain. But I’m not closing any doors on anyone. I try to carry on with my day-to-day life at my club and let the doors open when they need to open.”
Elsewhere, there is no place in Luis de la Fuente’s selection for Barcelona midfielder Gavi, who has only just returned from several months out through injury. Osasuna forward Victor Munoz is a surprise inclusion, with the 22-year-old getting his first call-up having never represented Spain at any level.
Spain host Serbia on Friday, March 27 and Egypt on Tuesday, March 31 during the coming international break, the last before this summer’s World Cup. De la Fuente’s side will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H at the tournament.
Mosquera has proven his worth at Arsenal
Analysis by staff editor Nnamdi Onyeagwara
Of Arsenal’s eight signings made in last summer’s transfer window, Mosquera was one of the more low-key acquisitions.
He may, though, prove to be the best value for money addition after establishing himself as a useful and often-relied-upon member of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Mosquera has made 25 appearances in all competitions, coming at centre-back and more recently right-back.
After Saliba sustained an injury in the warm-up before a game against Liverpool in August, Mosquera made his first Premier League start at Anfield and performed admirably next to Gabriel. He performed similarly when Saliba and Gabriel both missed out on the 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November and made a phenomenal goal-saving tackle to deny Igor Thiago a winning goal during the 1-1 draw away at Brentford in February, again filling in for Saliba.
Mosquera missed ten games due to an ankle injury sustained in December, but throughout this season, he has provided reliable cover at the heart of the Arsenal defence, while being picked ahead of Ben White to deputise for Jurrien Timber at right-back in recent weeks.
An athletic and versatile player with an aggressive approach to defending, Mosquera has more than played his part in an Arsenal defence that has kept a league-high 15 clean sheets this season.
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