Senegalese forward Keïta Baldé has been named in Catalonia’s 22-man squad for their upcoming international friendly against Costa Rica, confirming his absence from Pape Thiaw’s Senegal selection this international break.
The 30-year-old striker, currently with Serie A side AC Monza, joins a diverse group of players chosen by Catalonia head coach Gerard López.
The match is set to take place on Wednesday afternoon at 17:00 GMT at Estadi Johan Cruyff in Barcelona, marking Catalonia’s return to international action for the first time in over a year.
Their last fixture, against Panama, ended in a 2-2 draw.
Baldé, who has 40 caps and six goals for Senegal and was part of the squad that won the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, will be making his debut for the Catalan side.
His inclusion reflects a tradition of notable footballers representing the region in unofficial capacity—following in the footsteps of names like Gerard Piqué, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández and Sergio Busquets.
The Catalan Football Federation, which governs the national team, is not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA.
As such, the team only participates in friendly matches and has been doing so since its first fixture in 1912.
This unique status allows players who qualify by birth or residency to appear for Catalonia while maintaining eligibility for other national teams.
Among other notable names in López’s squad are Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, Barcelona defender Eric Garcia, Nottingham Forest full-back Alex Moreno, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Aleix Garcia, and Club Brugge forward Ferran Jutglà.
The squad also includes several FC Barcelona players—Gerard Martin and Pau Víctor among them—demonstrating the region’s ongoing commitment to promoting local talent alongside experienced professionals.
Keïta Baldé’s surprise inclusion in the Catalan ranks adds an intriguing dimension to the fixture.
While his absence from the Senegal squad may raise questions, his presence for Catalonia underlines both his connection to the region and the symbolic nature of this unique team, which serves as a cultural and footballing expression of Catalan identity.
Wednesday’s match promises to be more than just a footballing event—it is also a celebration of Catalonia’s sporting heritage and its continued effort to showcase its distinct place in the global football community.
📝 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐎̀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 😍
⚽️ Els 2️⃣2️⃣ jugadors catalans convocats pel #CatalunyaCostaRica masculí
🗓️ 28 de maig
🕖 1⃣9⃣:0⃣0⃣h
👋🏼 Ens veiem al Joan Cruyff @FCBarcelona_cat📲 Entrades a 5️⃣ euros a https://t.co/Hk9m6SFfKJ
Som-hi 💛❤️#SeleccionsCAT pic.twitter.com/8W04zT6Rfn
— Federació Catalana de Futbol (@FCF_CAT) May 26, 2025
