Bengaluru FC have enlisted the services of Spanish midfielder Alejandro 'Alex’ Barrera Garcia on a short-term deal to bolster the squad ahead of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 semi-finals. With Erik Paartalu ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an injury, Barrera can be considered a like for like replacement for the Australian midfielder and will have a role to play in the Blues’ final charge for the title.

The Spaniard can operate both as a central and an attacking midfielder and will add some depth to Carles Cuadrat's side. The 27-year-old is a product of the famed Sporting Gijon academy and was an integral part of Gijon's B team since making his senior debut with the reserves in 2010. He finally broke into the senior team in 2012 and was a regular fixture in the squad for four years, en route helping the team gain promotion to the La Liga from the Segunda Division for the 2015-16 season. He also went on to make four substitute appearances in the La Liga for Gijon.

In 2016, Barrera joined second division side Real Zaragoza. After a brief stint with the Los Blanquillos, he moved to third division team Extremadura UD and helped the team secure their first-ever promotion to the to the Segunda Division.

Barrera's inclusion takes the count of Bengaluru's Spanish Armada to six. He will be joining up with fellow countrymen Albert Serran, Juanan, Xisco Hernandez, Luis Lopez and Dimas Delgado.

"I feel really good to be here and I am excited to be part of the club. I am here to try to help the team as much as I can to achieve the goal. Since I was playing regularly before coming to India, I am fit and want to get onto the field as soon as possible. I want to work with the team and the players to get comfortable with all the boys quickly," Barrera told the official Bengaluru FC website after putting pen to paper.

The Blues' head coach Carles Cuadrat shared his thoughts on the new recruit and said, "Losing Erik Paartalu ahead of games that will decide the season for us has been a big blow. He was crucial in our midfield and his winning character helps us in the tough games. But we have to accept the circumstances and move on. In Alex, we have a temporary replacement who brings with him experience and physicality in the middle of the pitch. We are sure he will help us as we enter the home stretch."

Bengaluru will face NorthEast United FC in the two-legged semi-finals. The first leg in Guwahati will be held on March 7, while the return leg will be in Bengaluru on March 11.