Everyone within the MCF Academy enjoyed Christmas lunch together. Club advisers; Abdullah Ben Barek, Antonio Benítez and Francisco Martín Aguilar; sports director, Francesc Arnau; Academy manager, José Luis Ruiz Téllez; youth ranks’ coordinator, Miguel Ángel Calzado; head of 7-a-side football, Carlos Jiménez and Málaga CF femenino adviser, Miguel Ángel Navarrete, shared the top table, along with homegrown players from the first team; Pablo Fornals, Youssef En-Nesyri, Javier Ontiveros and Luis Muñoz.
After lunch, Aitor from the 3rd Benjamín team, addressed the guests with the traditional Christmas message: “All players who belong to Málaga Club de Fútbol’s Academy feel extremely proud to form part of this great family (…) Merry Blue and Whites’ Christmas to all and viva Málaga!” Ben Barek then passed on a message from president Al Thani, wishing everyone present a happy Christmas.
Arnau wished to close the event by remembering MCF Academy coordinator, Manel Casanova, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Agustín Rodríguez, the former director of the residence where the homegrown Malaguista players reside, who sadly passed away this year.
