Bilbao will feel the pull of the international window from next Monday, with Athletic Club goalkeeper Álex Padilla among the players leaving for national-team duty. Mexico have selected the Zarautz-born goalkeeper, who has Mexican roots, for a four-match friendly programme across late September and early October.
Padilla returns to Mexico plans
Padilla, Athletic’s second-choice goalkeeper, has previously been included by Mexico coach Javier Aguirre but has not yet made his senior debut. This latest call gives him another opportunity to establish himself with El Tri during a demanding sequence of fixtures.
- Colombia, 26 September
- Peru, 29 September
- United States, 3 October
- Chile, 6 October
The call is another international step for a goalkeeper whose connection to both the Basque Country and Mexico has placed him in the frame for Aguirre’s squad.
Athletic’s wider international contingent
Padilla will not be the only Athletic player expected to depart Lezama during the break. Álvaro Djaló has been selected by Guinea-Bissau for matches against Tanzania and Nigeria.
Spain could also take a substantial Athletic group into the opening phase of the Nations League. Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams are all likely to be involved when Luis de la Fuente announces his squad on Tuesday morning.
- Spain are due to begin with four Nations League matches.
- Their opponents are England, the Czech Republic and Croatia twice.
- Simón, Laporte and Nico Williams are expected to be among the Spanish candidates.
Iñaki Williams ends Ghana spell
Iñaki Williams will not join Ghana for this international period. The forward has chosen to step away from the Black Stars, bringing his time with the national side to an end.
