From En Nesyri and Ontiveros to Larrubia and Ramón: the quarry gives Malaga prestige

Málaga has earned more than 70 million euros during Abdullah Al Thani's time as the owner of Málaga. Soccer players trained at La Academia who had to be sold, not always at the best price, to solve extremely serious economic situations. The decline of Malaga after the initial stage of opulence and waste began to be detected in all its gravity after the resignation of Juande Ramos in December 2016. Málaga had been eliminated from the Cup by Córdoba and the coach, despite having a three-year contract, left fed up with Al Thani's interference and whims.

Francesc Arnau, then sports director, made a move that very soon after was essential for Málaga's survival. He renewed two homegrown players until 2020, En Nesyri and Ontiveros who pointed out very good manners but with little prominence in the first team. Juande Ramos began to give En Nesyri court not because he had colossal confidence in him, but because Michael Santos, the striker for whom 4.5 million euros had been paid, did not convince him at all. The Moroccan was the top scorer of the preseason with six goals. But in that 2016-17 season he participated in 13 games, none as a starter. Javier Ontiveros, not even that. Only four games. The renewal of these two players went unnoticed.

Only a year and a half later En Nesyri was transferred to Leganés for 5.3 million euros and the cucumber team resold to Seilla for 20 million euros. Tremendous! In the summer of 2019 Ontiveros was transferred to Villarreal for 7.5 million euros. Two sales that gave Malaga 12.8 million euros without which the club would have had a very difficult survival today.

Juande, Cristo, Larrubia and Ramón

The Malaga crisis exploded in the summer of 2019. Al Thani's poor management left a staff of only 17 professionals. Víctor Sánchez del Amo had no choice but to give field to the youth of the subsidiary who in many cases gave him a formidable result.

And despite the economic straits, Manolo Gaspar, the sports director, has managed to renew several of these players who may be the future of Málaga or, if they are badly given, leave money for a hypothetical transfer. This week David Larrubia has renewed until 2023. The club has already ensured the continuity of Hicham until 2022, Ismael Casas, Cristo and Juande (2023), and of course Luis Muñoz, until 2022.

There are still players to tie but the club is working on it. The next target is Ramón Enríquez, but also Ale Benítez, goalkeeper Gonzalo, Juan Cruz or Mike as reported by El Desmarque Málaga. The quarry, as always, to the rescue.