The world is finally waking up to Bryan Zaragoza

The electrifying Granada and Spain winger is making waves.

Last week, Bryan Zaragoza made his Spain debut in Seville. He played 45 minutes as La Roja beat Scotland 2-0.

The debut, as with so much of Bryan’s whistle-stop career, came almost out of nowhere. But it was a deserved reward for a 22-year-old who is very quickly establishing himself as one of Spain’s most precocious talents, writes Sam Tighe.

‘“Bryan Selección” es real.’

Two Sundays ago, a simple, triumphant, yet slightly emotional statement from Granada confirmed the rumours: Bryan Zaragoza, the mountain club’s new shooting star, had been called up to the Spanish national team.

He found out shortly after stepping off the pitch against Barcelona, having just eviscerated the Catalan club with his combination of lightning speed and sharpshooting. Two goals—one inside the first minute of the game, the other a goal-of-the-month contender—combined with an injury to Yeremy Pino paved the way for what had started out as a bit of a joke, a tongue-in-cheek suggestion for Spain to look Bryan’s way that lacked serious belief that it would ever actually happen.

After all, Bryan became only the fourth Granada player ever to represent the senior men’s national team when he stepped off the bench against Scotland last Thursday. Before him, the club’s most recent national representation had come from Ángel Castellanos back in 1974, almost 50 years ago. The closest connection the region can usually forge with La Furia Roja is hosting national team games at the Nuevo Los Cármenes. 

Bryan is the talk of the town and the pride of the city. Although born and raised in Málaga, where he played the vast majority of his formative football, it was Granada who gave him a senior contract—and therefore a lifeline—after Málaga, Real Betis and Real Valladolid declined to. That’s formed a connection on both sides; he’s not quite a homegrown hero, but he’s not far from it.