Calatrava makes Primera debut with Espanyol after record Castellón transfer

Álex Calatrava has already made the jump to Primera División. The Catalan forward made his debut on Sunday as a starter with Espanyol in the 3-0 victory over Levante, just weeks after leaving CD Castellón as the protagonist of the biggest sale in the club's history.

The Catalan played for 72 minutes in the match, showcasing from the start the qualities that made him one of Castellón's most decisive players. Positioned on the right but with freedom to move into central areas, Calatrava sought combinations, appeared between the lines and didn't hesitate to finish when opportunities arose. His clearest chance came in the 36th minute with a crisp shot that forced goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to intervene, and after the break he tried again with another effort. In total, he registered two shots on target before being substituted by Rafel Bauzà in the 72nd minute, having received a yellow card in the 63rd.

Natural progression after two brilliant seasons

Calatrava's trajectory at Castellón was meteoric. He arrived from Atlético Madrid B without consolidated professional experience and left as a Primera Division player. In two seasons he played 75 official matches, accumulating 21 goals and 19 assists. Particularly brilliant was his final campaign as an albinegro, closing the season with 15 goals and 8 assists, establishing himself as one of the team's main attacking assets and generating significant profit when Espanyol decided to back him.

Calatrava has chosen the number 22 shirt for his Espanyol adventure, a number immediately after 21, closely linked to Dani Jarque's memory and strengthened in 2025 through a protocol that preserves the shirt for academy players who establish themselves in the first team. His convincing debut, with minutes, prominence and confidence, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the elite.