Officer goes around Spain in select circles (8)
I believe the answer is:
coteries
'select circles' is the definition.
'coteries' can be an answer for 'circles' (coterie is a kind of circle). I'm not certain of the 'select' bit.
'officer goes around spain' is the wordplay.
'officer' becomes 'co' (Commanding Officer abbreviation).
'goes' becomes 'tries'.
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'spain' becomes 'e' (abbreviation for Espana).
'tries' placed around 'e' is 'teries'.
'co'+'teries'='COTERIES'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for coteries that I've seen before include "Exclusive groups" , "Exclusive circles, cliques" , "'Inner circles, cliques (8)'" .)