Barcelona wing-back Alejandro Balde is pinching himself over his call-up to Spain's World Cup squad.

Balde could not hide his joy and disbelief, as this is his first call-up with the senior team and what better way to start than in a World Cup.

“It's a dream for me to be here. I still don't believe it," the young defender told media upon his arrival at Qatar University campus, where Spain are staying.

“I am here to make the most of the opportunity, I am very happy. Not a year ago, not even three months ago could I have imagined this. A week ago they came to tell me that I would be coming here and I don't believe it. That my first call is to go directly to a World Cup... I am still pinching myself. I hope we take the cup home with us".

After his surprise call-up, Balde was forced to leave the Under-21 camp that is in Seville for a friendly against Japan.

“I was in the room with Pablo Torre and suddenly they called me. Luis de la Fuente called me and told me to go up to the meeting room, and there he told me that I would be flying out to Qatar. Right now it feels unreal. I won't believe it until I'm with my team mates.

"I haven't responded to half of the messages yet, I have received a lot. Everyone is writing to me, my cell phone is overloaded," the Barcelona player replied when asked about the moment he found out that his World Cup dream was now a reality."