Spain is preparing for the Finalissima against Argentina and local reports indicate that head coach Luis de la Fuente has shown interest in Parma forward Mateo Pellegrino.
According to AS, De la Fuente requested that Spain’s development director Aitor Karanka advance the process to secure Pellegrino, who holds dual nationality. He was born in Valencia during his father’s spell at the club from 1999 to 2004, later moved to Argentina at age seven, and completed his youth development at Vélez.
Pellegrino joined Parma in early 2025 after a productive period at Platense and a complex exit from Vélez. The Serie A club acquired 50% of his rights for two million dollars. After limited minutes early on, Pellegrino became the starting striker in the 2025/26 season and has scored four league goals.
He has not yet received a call-up to Lionel Scaloni’s senior squad but was part of a 2019 Argentina U18 list under Fernando Batista. In past interviews, including one with El Equipo de Deportea in 2024, Pellegrino stated that he would choose Argentina over Spain if both options were equal, citing his personal identity and ties to the country.
This is not the first time a European national team has targeted an Argentine player. Italy called up Mateo Retegui in 2023 while he was playing for Tigre, and he later became a regular member of the squad before moving through clubs such as Genoa, Atalanta, and Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. Italy also attempted to secure Marcos Senesi in 2022 before the Finalissima against Argentina, though he ultimately continued with the Albiceleste and remains in contention for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
