Adama Traore’s Mali future in doubt after call-up to Spain squad

 

Wolves winger Adama Traoré may finally put to rest the debate surrounding which country he will represent at international level after he received a call up to Spain’s squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.

The 24-year-old was on Thursday named in Luis Enrique’s 24-man squad to play in matches against Germany and Ukraine in September.

Traoré, who has dual nationality, can play for either Mali or Spain as he was born in Spain to Malian parents.

Traoré has been capped by Spain at Under 16, 17, 19 and 21 levels but is yet to play for the senior men’s national team leaving speculation about his commitment wide open.

As late as January, Traoré was yet to make a decision on which country he will represent, BBC reported.

“My mentality is to work for the team and the performance for the team gives me half a chance with two international teams and I am happy for that,” he told BBC Sport.

Traoré had been called up last year in November by Spain to play in their 2020 European Championship qualifiers against Malta and Romania but he ended up withdrawing due to injury. The withdrawal meant that the possibility of him playing for Mali remained open.

Shortly before that, photos of Traoré holding a Mali shirt did the rounds online fuelling speculation that he had committed to playing for the West African nation.

Traoré, a former Barcelona youth player, joined Wolves after spells with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati, who was born in Guinea-Bissau but represents Spain internationally, was also named in the squad.