Siren Diao Balde (born 21 January 2005) is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker for Granada CF, on loan from Italian club Atalanta BC.

Siren Diao
Personal information
Full name Siren Diao Balde
Date of birth (2005-01-21) 21 January 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Figueres, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Granada
(on loan from Atalanta)
Youth career
Esplais
FE Figueres
Girona
L'Escala
–2022 Costa Brava
2022–2024 Hellas Verona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Atalanta U23 19 (5)
2024–Granada (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2023– Spain U19 6 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:21, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Born in Figueres, Girona, Catalonia, Diao moved to neighbouring Castelló d'Empúries at the age of eight months and was raised in the city.[1] He is of Senegalese descent.[2]

Club career

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Early career

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Diao started playing football at the age of five.[3] He represented Esplais CF, FE Figueres, Girona FC, FC L'Escala and UE Costa Brava[4] before moving to Italy with Hellas Verona FC in 2022.[5]

Atalanta

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On 4 January 2024, Atalanta BC announced the signing of Diao, and assigned him to the under-23 team in the Serie C.[6][7] He made his senior debut nine days later, coming on as a late substitute for Giuseppe Di Serio in a 1–0 home win over AC Trento 1921, and scored his first goal on 4 February by netting the opener in a 1–1 away draw against FC Pro Vercelli 1892.

Loan to Granada

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On 15 August 2024, Diao returned to his home country after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Granada CF in Segunda División.[8][9]

International career

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On 3 November 2023, Diao was called up to the Spain national under-19 team,[10] and made his debut for the side twelve days later in a 5–0 win over Moldova.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Debut exitós de Siren Diao amb Espanya sub-19: gol i accés a la Ronda Elit de l'Europeu" [Successful debut of Siren Diao with Spain under-19s: goal and qualification to the Elite Round of the European] (in Catalan). Empordà. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ News, Atalanta- (January 4, 2024). "A new signing for the U23s: Siren Diao, damas y caballeros! | A new signing for the U23s: Siren Diao, damas y caballeros! | Atalanta". Atalanta - News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Chi è Siren Diao: il classe 2005 già convocato da Gasperini e che segna con l'Atalanta Under 23" [Who is Siren Diao: the 2005 class player already called up by Gasperini and who scores with Atalanta Under 23] (in Italian). Bergamo News. 15 February 2024.
  4. ^ "¿Quién es Siren Diao, la nueva perla que golea con España?" [Who is Siren Diao, the new pearl who scores with Spain?] (in Spanish). Sport. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Diao e la virtù di credere in se stessi: il futuro dell'Hellas Verona" [Diao and the virtue of believing in yourself: the future of Hellas Verona] (in Italian). Mondo Primavera. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ^ "A new signing for the U23s: Siren Diao, damas y caballeros!". Atalanta BC. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Siren Diao, el español de 18 años que destroza el fútbol juvenil italiano... y ficha por Atalanta" [Siren Diao, the 18-year-old Spaniard who destroys Italian youth football... and signs for Atalanta] (in Spanish). Marca. 3 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Siren Diao joins Granada on loan". Atalanta BC. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Siren Diao, nuevo jugador del Granada CF" [Official announcement | Siren Diao, new player of Granada CF] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  10. ^ "La selecció espanyola sub-19 crida Siren Diao, davanter de Castelló d'Empúries" [Spain national under-19 team call up Siren Diao, forward from Castelló d'Empúries] (in Catalan). Empordà. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Siren Diao debuta amb la selecció espanyola sub-19 amb una victòria contra Moldàvia" [Siren Diao debuts with the Spain under-19 national team with a victory over Moldova] (in Catalan). Empordà. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
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