Salma Paralluelo's rapid rise to the top
It's only two years since Salma Paralluelo joined Barcelona and was making her Spain debut. Now she's won almost everything already, and at just 20 years old is spear-heading the Spain attack...
WFC is currently in France bringing you all the latest features, interviews, analysis and reaction throughout the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Check out the dedicated Olympics section now for all content related to the women’s football tournament!
Cristian Aleza Garcés can remember two moments he knew he was dealing with a prodigious talent, shortly after taking over as Real Zaragoza head coach in 2018.
One was in pre-season, when his side took up a top division opponent and the player in questions performance was “outstanding” and “left everyone fascinated.
The other came a short amount of time later, with Zaragoza losing a league game, before the striker scored four goals herself without reply in 45 minutes to win her team the match.
The player in question?
Future Barcelona and Spain forward, Salma Paralluelo.
Take advantage of WFC’s special ‘Paris 2024’ offer ahead of our dedicated coverage of the Olympics live from inside France.
Until the final on Saturday 11th August, get 25% off an annual subscription, meaning 12 months of access to our all our Premium Content for just £33.75!
If you want to just subscribe for the Olympics, a monthly sub costs just £6!
That was six years ago, when Garcés swapped CE Europa for Zaragoza. Six years on, Paralluelo is still just 20, yet a multiple Liga F winner, multiple Champions League winner, and even a World Cup winner.
Now, she’s three games from being an Olympic gold medallist, taking on the starting role as Spain’s number nine after largely being a super sub 12 months ago on the way to glory in Australia.
She is, in every sense, an intriguing story.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Women's Football Chronicles to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.