La Academia met at Venta ‘El Túnel’ today for Christmas lunch.  Málaga CF advisers, Abdallah Ben Barek, Antonio Benítez and Francisco Martín Aguilar attended the event, along with assistant academy director, Francesc Arnau; academy manager, José Luis Ruiz; and Atlético Málaga coach, Manuel Hernández Navarrete.  La Academia coordinator, Manel Casanova was absent this year, as he is recovering from knee surgery.  Home grown members of the first team, Javi Ontiveros and Pablo Fornals also enjoyed the day’s festivities.

Abdallah Ben Barek had a few words for all the young players within the Club’s youth teams: “We’ll all very proud of your work, which we’re seeing in the first team.  Our President, Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al-Thani sends you much encouragement, best wishes and hopes this unity will help to get our Club, Málaga CF as far as possible.”

For his part, Iván Lorente, a young ‘Benjamín’ player from the academy spoke on behalf of his fellow teammates: “All the boys and girls that form part of the Málaga Club de Fútbol academy family wish you a very merry Christmas.  Viva Málaga!”