Carlos Espí required very little time to bridge the gap between starring for Spain’s Under-21 side and earning a senior national team call-up, following Luis de la Fuente’s decision to summon the Real Madrid forward to replace Ferran Torres.
The squad adjustment comes as Paris Saint-Germain’s Ferran continues to suffer from left ankle discomfort. While the issue initially allowed him to train and play, the medical staff opted to release him from the camp to ensure full recovery in coordination with his club’s medical team.
Espí’s call-up arrives just hours after a sensational performance for the U21s, where he scored five goals and provided two assists in a 13–0 victory over San Marino—becoming the first player in the history of Spain’s U21 side to score five goals in a single match.
The clash against San Marino marked Espí’s first start for the U21s and featured the first hat-trick of his professional career, before he pushed his tally to five goals to capture De La Fuente’s immediate attention.
The 21-year-old forward transferred from Levante to Real Madrid last July, signing a long-term contract through the summer of 2031. Across three seasons with Levante, he made 66 appearances and scored 20 goals.
With Real Madrid, Espí has made five official appearances this season, logging just 26 minutes of action yet scoring two goals. His strikes against Espanyol and Elche in La Liga highlight his remarkable efficiency in limited playing time.
This represents Espí’s first call-up to the senior Spain squad, meaning he has yet to make his senior international debut. He will compete for attacking minutes alongside Mikel Oyarzabal and Roberto Fernández.
Spain face the Czech Republic at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo on Saturday, October 3 (20:45), before concluding the international window against Croatia in Split on Tuesday, October 6 at the same time.
