Spain’s preparations for their high-profile international tour across North America have suffered an early setback. Arsenal Women midfielder Mariona Caldentey has officially withdrawn from the national team squad after sustaining a hamstring injury against Manchester City on Sunday, forcing head coach Sonia Bermúdez into a late reshuffle, ahead of a demanding pair of fixtures against the United States.
However, Caldentey’s unfortunate withdrawal has handed a landmark career moment to Liverpool midfielder Natalia Ramos. The 26-year-old Spaniard has received her maiden senior international call-up as a direct replacement, marking a major personal milestone and capping an impressive period of domestic form on Merseyside.
Caldentey sidelined by hamstring setback ahead of USA double-header
The loss of Caldentey represents a notable blow to Spain’s attacking structure. The experienced midfielder felt acute discomfort in her hamstring, forcing her off at the Etihad in Sunday's WSL clash.
The injury arrives at an intriguing time for la Roja. Having already wrapped up early qualification for the upcoming Women's World Cup, Spain are utilising this international window to test themselves against elite opposition in two blockbuster friendly encounters in the United States:
- October 10: USA vs Spain — Audi Field, Washington D.C.
- October 13: USA vs Spain — Subaru Park, Philadelphia
Without Caldentey's spatial awareness and movement to unpick the American backline, Spain will look to rely on their squad depth and tactical flexibility during the two East Coast clashes.
A career milestone for Liverpool’s Natalia Ramos
For Natalia Ramos, the sudden call-up is the ultimate reward for her seamless transition to English football. Having completed a summer transfer to Liverpool from CD Tenerife Femenino, the versatile midfielder has quickly established herself as a key figure in Gareth Taylor’s midfield.
Ramos arrived on Merseyside bringing over 200 senior career appearances and a proven track record in Liga F, where she notched an impressive ten goals and five assists during her final campaign in Spain. Since taking the No. 6 shirt at Melwood, her ability to dictate tempo, win defensive duels, and transition play has added crucial poise to Liverpool's setup.
While Ramos previously represented Spain at youth levels—notably winning the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in 2017—she is yet to break into the senior setup, amidst intense competition within Spanish football's golden generation.
Her inclusion in Bermúdez's squad not only highlights her personal rise but also reinforces the growing international standing of Liverpool FC Women. Capable of operating as both a deep-lying orchestrator and an aggressive box-to-box midfielder, Ramos provides Spain with an ideal physical and technical option to counter the relentless athleticism of the USWNT.
While Ramos has yet to register her first goal or assist in Liverpool colours having gone goal-less in her early league appearances against Charlton, Manchester City, Everton, and Manchester United her defensive work, passing range, and positional awareness have made her a key anchor in midfield.
Her call-up follows a mixed run of domestic form for Liverpool Women:
- September 27: Liverpool 2–0 Everton (WSL) - A convincing Merseyside derby victory at home.
- October 3: Manchester United 1–0 Liverpool (WSL) - A tight 1-0 defeat at Leigh Sports Village, where Julia Zigiotti Olme's early strike proved the difference. Ramos played 77 minutes before being substituted.
She previously played for Spain's youth teams even winning the European Under-19 Championship in 2017 but has had to wait patiently for a chance with the senior team.
Test on American soil
With World Cup qualification already secured, Spain's upcoming tour across Washington and Philadelphia serves as a vital proving ground. The absence of established stars like Caldentey creates an immediate opportunity for emerging figures like Ramos to stake their claim for permanent roles in the national team setup.
For Liverpool supporters, seeing Ramos earn her spot alongside world champions is a point of pride. Kopites will be watching closely on October 10 and October 13 to see if the Reds midfielder makes her official senior international debut against the world’s most famous national side.
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