Last January, Espanyol’s sports management, headed by Fran Garagarza, learned a valuable lesson for the future. The intention within the club to reinforce the team with important names to undertake the inevitable promotion was met with a refusal from the ownership, the product of an economic situation much more worrying than it may seem from the outside. The sports director was the most surprised after not being able to sign Manu Trigueros, with whom there was a total agreement for his incorporation from Villarreal. He even came to believe that there was a loss of trust on the part of Chen Yansheng towards him, something that time and the advice of heavyweights in the entity would make him rule out. With this precedent, it is clear that whether promotion is achieved or not, the Espanyol of the future will have to be built with the product that grows in Dani Jarque.
Despite the uncertainty generated by the end of the season, the Sant Adrià offices are already working on planning for the next market. Firstly, Espanyol has been and will have to continue being a selling team in the coming markets. The club’s significant debt, some 57 million euros, forces the sports management to look for economic margins in each market. Last summer the club earned 33 million euros with seven sales and even in case of promotion it would be necessary to generate a new sale. Young profiles like Joan García, Pol Lozano or Javi Puado have a lot of market.
Regarding incorporations, the maxim is to bet on the talent generated by the youth team and try to look outside for profiles that complement the team. This year at many times up to six homegrown players have played in the eleven, and the entity’s idea is for that number to increase.
When it comes to the goal, the intention is not to touch anything. The growth of Joan García and the experience of Fernando Pacheco are to the liking of the entire sports area. Furthermore, there are excellent reports about Llorenç Serred, who has already been called up to the first team this season. Only in the case of a large sale of Joan García (it would never be for a lower amount), would the club consider going to the market.
In the center of the field there will be an alternative to youth players like Kenneth Soler, who has already made his debut in the first team and, depending on the departures, the needs will be met. It will be up front where, whether there is promotion or not, the club will go to the market. Braithwaite’s continuity is very complicated and different profiles will be needed, especially for the First Division.
Another strategy that will grow in the immediate future is to assign young people to seek their growth. Puado, Pol Lozano, Jofre and Rubén Sánchez are good examples. In addition, the subsidiary will be reinforced with profiles that can appear in the first team regularly, as is the case of Gastón Vallés, who arrived in January and is key in several matches in the Second Division. Rafa Bauzá, Leo Salazar, Pol Escribano or Ian Cruz are other candidates to make the leap.
