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Jose Callejon has long been deserving of a call to the Spanish national team, but has never gotten one, even in the face of Spain's need of a player of his style in the last year. That's finally changed, though, after he was called up for Spain duty for this upcoming international period.
Callejon is thrilled with the callup, calling it one of the best moments he can remember.
"At the end of training, the Napoli press officer walked towards me: Vicente Del Bosque was announcing the squad list. Albiol kept saying I was going to be called up and I shut him up, telling him he was bringing bad luck!
"I am very happy, as a player always tries to give his best and do better every day. I will try to stay in the Spain squad. That call-up is right up there as one of the happiest moments of my life, behind the birth of my daughter and my debut with Real Madrid."
Callejon, Serie A's joint-leading scorer with Carlos Tevez after the Juventus striker joined in the fun during Juve's 7-0 beating of Parma yesterday, could play a significant role in the Spain side called to action this month. Of he, Pedro, Nolito, and Santi Cazorla, he seems most likely to claim one of the two starting spots out wide in Del Bosque's 4-3-3, though Isco could get a sniff there as well and peg Callejon down the depth chart a bit. Even if he doesn't start, though, Del Bosque can use him off the bench to add a much more direct attacking presence to stretch a flagging defense.
This is a well-earned callup for Callejon. Hopefully he takes the chance presented to him and runs with it, and earns a place in the Spanish side for a long time to come.