On November 8, 2020, seven players from the lower categories of Granada received an improvised alternative in the First Division due to force majeure circumstances: the Covid-19 that affected part of the workforce that forced a vast majority to go through a quarantine. They were these: Ángel, Pepe Sánchez, Sergio Barcia, Fobi, Brunet, Bravo and Dani Plomer. The image they gave was more than dignified. Hopeful.
The damn coronavirus struck in the heart of Los Cármenes and it was necessary to rescue the wardrobe base based on quarry and professionals like Soldier, recently recovered from the damn disease, who played under his responsibility even though he was not in conditions. You had to help the team in any way. From a situation of extreme emergency, a joyous reality was observed: for some time now, Granada has done much better with its youth squad. It was not always like this.
Aranda, the talent
Among those who made history in San Sebastian was not one of whom many speak wonders. It is about Antonio José Aranda Subiela (Huetor Vega, Granada, 7-10-2000). He can play as a second striker and midfielder. Different and talented player, Diego Martínez lined him up with the first team in the Cup match against San Juan where he dazzled Jorge Molina with a goal assist.
Pepe Sánchez, heir to De la Cruz
Pepe Sánchez (Linares-Jaén- 7-3-2000) has not been out of tune as a right backor. He received the alternative because Víctor Díaz and Foulquier were injured, Quini was recovering and the converted Vallejo was also out. And it was very good. He has had minutes in the three competitions, the League, the Cup and the Europa League and Diego Martínez has him in very good esteem. Some nostalgic people already see in him a distant heir of De la Cruz, the one from León who ended up signing for Barcelona and being an international in the distant 70s of the last century.
Isma Ruiz, a motor
Isma ruiz He is from Gójar (Granada -14-2-2001). A good player in the center of the field, he stands out a lot at Recre Granada for his good background and his perseverance in the fight.
Angel, the ‘parapenaltis’
Ángel Jiménez Gallego is from Granada (06-22-2002). As a youth he had to defend the goal in Anoeta because there was no other available. The kid didn't wrinkle. He gave a recital of interventions, stopped a penalty from none other than William José and showed sensational leadership skills. He was a hero in that complicated afternoon.
Sergio Barcia, the lane
He is from Vigo like Diego Martínez (12-07-2000). A disciplined and brash left-back who came from Celta B in the 2018-19 campaign. Granada, for a few years, has been trying to pamper its lower categories and reach agreements with teams from the province, without ruling out looking at good national talents. But this has not always been the case.
The optimization of the Recre Granada
Granada has not, traditionally, been a team that has been based on the quarry. The good players of the province used to look for their chickpeas in other places while, on the contrary, others arrived who in the end were adapted to a wonderful province. Doing a brief review, we could mention as unforgettable homegrown players Lina, who debuted in 1979-80, at the age of 17 and under the guidance of Abdallah Ben Barek (now Málaga's advisory adviser) because in those years the Federation forced to alienate two sub -twenty. Some teams replaced them within minutes. Lina, with 384 minutes, is the player with the most games in the history of Granada. Another great youth squad, Manolo Lucena, rose with his beloved team from Third Division to First Division. A milestone just achieved by Basti y Bravo (Málaga) and Pedro José (Extremadura). But the circumstances did not favor this work from below.
Current moment
With the arrival of Quique Pina as president and Juan Carlos Cordero as sports director, Granada returned to the First Division 34 years later. That rush made us rethink the role of the subsidiary that reached Second B in 2013-14. Then young players arrived but not properly homegrown players. Dimitrievski, Wilson Cuero, Clifford, Machís, Fatau, Peñaranda, Álvaro García… Recre Granada was a bridge to go to the first team or to find a profitable transfer, as, for example, happened with Peñaranda, sold to Watford, the factory team Pozzo, then owner of the Los Cármenes club, for four million euros. That was the philosophy.
A new age
Now times are different. Granada is no longer betting on a subsidiary that receives good world promises. Now look more at the formation from below. Carlos Neva is an interesting example. He was brought from Marbella when he was only 20 years old and after two good seasons at Recreativo Granada, he made the leap to the first team. Now he is the owner of the left lane and the club wants to renew his contract. Now yes, Granada is betting on the quarry.