A bone, which is the one injury with a calendar attached. Andorra will name a return date and, unusually for this business, will probably be right about it.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Andorra, and it is not being withdrawn.
The deal that would have taken Lautaro De León to Betis has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Andorra with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Andorra have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Andorra they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The new man at Andorra has worked with Thalys before and it went well. He arrives with a view of the player already formed, which is worth more than any pre-season.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Andorra this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 83 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. Andorra have lost him in all but the paperwork.
Terms were offered and declined. Whether it was the wages, the role or the town, nobody at Betis is saying, and nobody at Andorra is enjoying the guessing.
Antonio Rüdiger and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Andorra asked and Algeciras said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
Squad28 Aug 2028
Words at Andorra training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Tjark Scheller is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
The new man at Andorra has worked with Thalys before and it went well. He arrives with a view of the player already formed, which is worth more than any pre-season.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Andorra can pretend not to have heard.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Andorra this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad6 Dec 2027
Words at Andorra training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Álex Jiménez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Tjark Scheller was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
At 23 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Manu Nieto. 2‑0 against Mirandés, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
100 games in the shirt. Nobody sets out to build a record like that; it happens to a certain kind of player at a certain kind of club, and this town knows what it has.
Duván Riascos and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout29 Nov 2027
The view from the dugout
“We controlled it. There were spells I did not like and we will look at them, but the group showed me something.” Marc Vidal, on a 2‑0 win that he was already picking apart on the walk to the press room.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Andorra can pretend not to have heard.
“I have ambitions, and I would like the club to share them.” Nobody has asked to leave and nobody has been shown the door — but a player chooses that sentence carefully, and a boardroom hears it exactly as it was meant.
Thomas Carrique and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Tjark Scheller was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“I watch every Andorra game from here. That says everything about where my head is.” The loan at Getafe runs its course, but his heart never made the trip.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Andorra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
The fee is $1.1M, the contract is signed, and the argument about whether he is worth it can begin. Barakaldo drove a hard bargain; time will say who won it.
1 boys move up, and somewhere in the building the people who coached them at twelve are quietly having the best morning of their working year. Nothing about this shows up in a result and it is why the academy exists.
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Jaime Lorenzo has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Squad23 Aug 2027
Words at Andorra training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Álex Jiménez is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
It is not much of a headline and it is the reason players believe the next promise. Andorra told Jesús Owono something would happen and then it happened, which in this industry passes for remarkable.
“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Andorra has been clear about where Efe Akman stands, which is more than many ever get.
The words a physio says slowly. 98 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Andorra paid $1.1M and Barakaldo took it, which is the whole story in one sentence. The longer version involves a wage budget and will be told all season.
5 boys move up, and somewhere in the building the people who coached them at twelve are quietly having the best morning of their working year. Nothing about this shows up in a result and it is why the academy exists.
Squad23 Aug 2027
Words at Barakaldo training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Iván Valenzuela is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Héctor Ortega has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Carlos Carrasco has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Nicolás Hidalgo is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
In brief
The dugoutEnric Pujol back under a manager who knows him
BoardroomA promise the Barakaldo board did not keep
Andorra and Barakaldo have settled on $1.1M. The rest belongs to the player and his agent, and a supporter who has watched one of these before knows not to buy the shirt yet.
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Arenteiro have kept their man, and Andorra go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Andorra this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad16 Aug 2027
Words at Andorra training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Tjark Scheller is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Andorra, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Numbers do not stay secret in a dressing room and never have. He is not asking for more than he is worth; he is asking why somebody beside him is worth more, and at Andorra that is a harder question to answer.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Andorra know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
The words a physio says slowly. 105 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Barakaldo, and it is not being withdrawn.
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Mirandés have kept their man, and Barakaldo go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
The new man at Barakaldo has worked with Enric Pujol before and it went well. He arrives with a view of the player already formed, which is worth more than any pre-season.
Squad16 Aug 2027
Words at Barakaldo training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Íñigo is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Nobody at Barakaldo will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
The words a physio says slowly. 113 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Barakaldo this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Barakaldo asked and Pontevedra said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
The new man at Barakaldo has worked with Enric Pujol before and it went well. He arrives with a view of the player already formed, which is worth more than any pre-season.
The shrug has gone, the language is coming, and he now argues in training like somebody who expects to be here next year. Half a signing's value is this and none of it appears on a fee.
The words a physio says slowly. 120 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Barakaldo, and it is not being withdrawn.
Mikel Rodríguez was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Iván Valenzuela was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Andorra have kept their man, and Barakaldo go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
The new man at Barakaldo has worked with Enric Pujol before and it went well. He arrives with a view of the player already formed, which is worth more than any pre-season.
Another week, another link, another denial nobody quite believes. Barakaldo know the market decides these things, not the back pages — but the back pages are louder.
In brief
The dugoutÍñigo has become a man the manager trusts
The words a physio says slowly. 135 days is what the club will announce and everybody who has heard this diagnosis before knows the number is the least of it: the knee comes back before the player does.
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 114 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Barakaldo, and it is not being withdrawn.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Iván Valenzuela was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The new man at Barakaldo has worked with Enric Pujol before and it went well. He arrives with a view of the player already formed, which is worth more than any pre-season.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Germán Niz trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Brutal, unambiguous and, for all the horror of the moment, usually less career-shaped than the ligament everybody fears more. 67 days, a clean timeline, and a return date somebody can actually plan around.
3 wins in a row changes how opponents warm up: quieter, more glances across. Runs end, everybody knows that — but nobody in this dressing room is planning for it.
Sabin Merino and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Federico Marcucci will call it something else in private.
The dugout12 Apr 2027
The manager’s verdict
“I am not going to get carried away and I will not let them either. It was a good day. There will be harder ones.” Felipe Serrano kept it short after the 2‑1 win, which is what managers do when they are happy.
Squad12 Apr 2027
Marc Torrá falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Germán Niz trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
In brief
The dugoutSomebody else is better right now than Rafa De Vicente
Terms were offered and declined. Whether it was the wages, the role or the town, nobody at Cerro Largo is saying, and nobody at Barakaldo is enjoying the guessing.
Successful dribbles: 23. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Iván Valenzuela was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
The phone has started ringing about Unai Dufur again, and this time the name on the line is Unionistas. Barakaldo are listening politely and promising nothing.
28 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Barakaldo lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Barakaldo can pretend not to have heard.
Lautaro Cardozo and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
He is 23 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
A 1‑0 win over Real Avilés, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Squad21 Dec 2026
Words at Barakaldo training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Federico Marcucci is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Everybody saw it before anybody said it. At 36 the numbers say 3 points down on what he was, and the question for Barakaldo is how to handle a man they owe a great deal.
35 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Barakaldo lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.
4 without a win now, and the ground has developed the special quiet of a crowd that expects the worst. One scrappy 1-0 would cure most of it; that is the maddening part.
Lautaro Cardozo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Rafa Páez was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
“The supporters are entitled to be angry. So am I. We will put it right.” 0‑3, a manager saying the necessary things, and a dressing room that heard a different version of them.
In brief
The dugoutDuván Riascos asks for a word with the manager
There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.19 at 34, and nobody on the pitch was better.
Lautaro Cardozo and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
At 23 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.
Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Emanuel Pentimalli was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.
Something was said to Enzo Suraci and then it happened. In this industry that passes for remarkable, and the dressing room noticed faster than any supporter could.