Málaga's Loyalty Shines Through: Club Set to Reward Álex Pastor Despite Injury Setback
Málaga CF pushing ahead with contract renewal for sidelined defender Álex Pastor, showing faith despite his serious knee injury that has ruled him out this season.
Málaga’s Loyalty Shines Through: Club Set to Reward Álex Pastor Despite Injury Setback
In a show of remarkable faith, Málaga CF are pressing ahead with plans to extend Álex Pastor’s contract despite the defender being sidelined with a devastating knee injury.
Standing by Their Man
The 26-year-old Catalan centre-back has become the latest focus in Málaga’s renewal strategy, with talks progressing positively between club and player. What makes this particularly noteworthy is that Pastor’s current deal doesn’t expire until June 2026, but the club are keen to tie him down potentially until 2028.
This move speaks volumes about how highly rated Pastor is at La Rosaleda. Before his injury, the defender had established himself as an absolute diamond in Sergio Pellicer’s backline. When Nelson Monte was ruled out, Pastor stepped up proper, becoming the defensive lynchpin the team needed.
Cruel Timing
Football can be a right old pain in the Khyber sometimes. Just as Pastor was hitting his stride, disaster struck in August when he suffered a serious triple injury (ACL, MCL and meniscus damage). The brutal blow has essentially written off his entire season, with medical staff not expecting him back in training until next summer.
Currently, Pastor doesn’t even hold a first-team registration. The club made the pragmatic decision to free up his number 5 shirt and some salary space to bring in Darko Brasanac - ironically another player with his own medical history concerns.
Calculated Gamble
Málaga’s sporting directors are taking a bit of a punt here, but it’s one based on genuine belief in Pastor’s abilities and recovery prospects. The uncertainty around his rehabilitation hasn’t deterred their commitment to him.
This approach isn’t without precedent at Martiricos. The club has previously backed injured players like Ramón, Moussa Diarra and Haitam with new deals during their recovery periods - a policy that’s always split opinion among the supporters.
Renewal Drive
Pastor’s contract extension might actually jump the queue ahead of other renewal projects already in motion. Sporting director Loren Juarros has ongoing discussions with several key players including:
- Carlos Puga
- Dani Lorenzo
- Rafa Rodríguez
- Chupete
All these negotiations aim to secure medium to long-term stability for a Málaga side looking to build something special on the Costa del Sol.