Salma Paralluelo to pick football or athletics with Barcelona waiting
Barça are keen on signing the young Villarreal winger to boost their attack
Salma is also a runner and must pick between football and athletics soon
Salma Paralluelo was a girl with two dreams: football and athletics. She fought to fulfill them both and, at 18, is still a footballer and an athlete. She plays for Villarreal and competes for Playas de Castellon.
Aware that she must dedicate herself to just one sport soon -- and with interest from big clubs, like Barcelona -- SPORT have learned that she has set June 30 as a deadline to make a decision.
Barça
When Salma played for Zaragoza in 2019, Barça offered her the chance to sign for the club. But the winger opted to sign for Villarreal, as it would allow her to continue as an athlete for Playas de Castellon alongside her football career. She runs 400m and 400m hurdles mainly.
In recent months, with her performance on a football pitch continuing to improve, big clubs have been back in touch, above all from England but also Barça again. Sources close to the player tell SPORT there is no formal offer from the Catalans but there is interest. They have let her know that if she picks football, they will try and sign her again.
Injury
She set her own deadline to make a decision. But in April 2021 she ruptured the ligament in her knee, halting her progression. And she temporarily decided to extend 'The Decision' until June 2023.
After nine months and a lot of hard work, she returned to action in the Copa de la Reina against Dix Logroño. Her performances for Villarreal since -- including a golazo against Barça -- caught the attention of Spain coach Jorge Vilda, who called her up to the 28 strong squad for this summer's European Championships.
Her return to the pitch coincided with the start of the athletics season. In the first tests, she didn't hit the marks she should have, but that didn't worry her camp given it was normal as she recovered from such a serious injury.
But her form for Villarreal, coupled with the growth of women's of football, could force a decision that she will now take before June 30 approximately, as she originally planned. There are three options on the table: football, athletics or to keep doing them both for one more year.
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