Matarazzo calls up 12 Sanse youth players
The coach gives a golden opportunity to the young players of the reserve team in the absence of international players.
Pellegrino Matarazzo is wasting no time and has put the Real Sociedad youth team under the microscope from day one. The new coach Txuri-Urdin has called up 12 Sanse players to join preseason training, transforming these initial weeks into a high-risk audition for young talent while the internationals remain absent. The decision responds to a pragmatic need to plug the holes left by market exits and delays in the return of incumbents.
Players like Aitor Fraga, Kazunari Kita and Alex Lebarbier head the list of those called up who must prove their immediate worth. Matarazzo is raiding the academy basket to fill the gap, but it's not just a matter of numbers; It is a unique opportunity for these youth players to show that they can compete at the highest level before the team structure is completed with the return of the seniors. This move sets the tone for the Italian coach's management: the famous La Real academy will be his main lifeline.
By giving minutes and confidence to the reserve team in such a demanding environment, Matarazzo is evaluating in real time the depth of his squad and the ability of his youngsters to withstand pressure. It is a signal of intentions towards the fans and towards the locker room itself about the value of training in their sporting project. The physical and mental leap from the reserve team to the demands of an elite coach is abysmal.
It is not enough to control the ball; Matarazzo demands a suffocating intensity and a tactical reading that usually takes years to mature. By exposing these players to such a demanding environment from day one, the coach is filtering not only for talent, but for mental toughness. Those who do not maintain the rhythm of high pressing or defensive transitions will be discarded quickly, regardless of their technical quality.
This approach accelerates maturation but also exposes the real limitations of the latest generations of the quarry. From a management perspective, this strategy acts as a cushion against the volatility of the transfer market. With the need to reinforce the squad without increasing the wage bill, each youth player who consolidates a position represents a saving of millions in commissions and chips.
Matarazzo is conducting a real-time cost-benefit analysis: if in-house talent can cover a significant percentage of minutes, the club can focus its limited resources on specific signings rather than filling the bench with mercenaries. It is a pragmatic move that aligns sporting need with economic sustainability, turning Zubieta into the club's most valuable financial asset. What comes is simple and brutal: time is running out.
This window of opportunity will close as soon as the internationals return to Zubieta. For these 12 Sanse footballers, the message is clear: shine now or fade when the starters regain their place. It is time to show that the future is already here, or to accept that your place is still in the reserve team.
Strategically, Matarazzo is using the troop shortage as a low-cost laboratory to test his tactical system. It's not just about having bodies to run, but about seeing if the physical and technical profile of the youth players fits into the block you want to build. If these young people endure the intensity and mental demands of the Italian during these sessions, the club avoids desperate moves in the transfer market and validates the investment in the youth team.
It is a calculation of risk and reward where the only capital at stake is the sweat and ambition of those in the house. The historical context of the Royal Society weighs here; The fans demand respect for the academy and Matarazzo has quickly understood this. By opening the doors of the first team in this way, the coach ensures the support of the stands while solving a logistical problem.
However, the reality of professional football is implacable: the preseason is where legs are forged, but dreams are also broken. The ability of these twelve players to adapt to the pace of the elite will define not only their immediate future, but also the depth with which the team will face European competitions and the domestic league. Read at Marca LaLiga
Why this matters
This call transcends simple staff management; It's a philosophy check. Matarazzo is pointing out that the quarry, the historical pride of Real Sociedad, will be its main work tool. For fans, this is the first tangible proof of the new coach's technical eye and how he plans to build the team's depth without relying exclusively on the transfer market.
Frequently asked
- Why has Matarazzo called up so many Sanse players?
- To cover the losses caused by the departure of players and the absence of international players who have not yet joined the preseason.
- Who are the Sanse players mentioned?
- Among the 12 call-ups, names such as Aitor Fraga, Kazunari Kita and Alex Lebarbier stand out, who will seek to earn a place in the first team.
- What does this mean for the Real Sociedad quarry?
- It means that the new coach sees the academy as his lifeline and will give real opportunities to the youngsters if they perform during these trial weeks.
- How long will these players have to prove themselves?
- They have a short window until the internationals return to the team, at which point competition for places will intensify.
Source
- Matarazzo llama a 12 futbolistas del Sanse para paliar las bajas y ¿buscar un fichaje de casa?
Marca LaLigamarca.comBy ÓSCAR BADALLO2 Jul, 9:43es
