Santander's secret weapon: How Peio Canales is powering Racing's promotion push
The on-loan Athletic Club midfielder has become a pivotal figure in Racing Santander's Segunda División campaign with crucial goals and assists.
Racing Santander’s promotion charge continues to gather momentum, with Basque midfielder Peio Canales emerging as the club’s difference-maker after his match-winning strike against Deportivo at Riazor.
Canales: Racing’s midfield maestro
The young Athletic Club loanee has been absolutely mustard for the Cantabrian outfit this season. With 4 goals and 5 assists from 18 appearances, the lad from Barrika has become José Alberto’s go-to man in the middle of the park.
Initially deployed in a double pivot, Canales has truly found his feet playing in the number 10 role, where his creative influence has been most pronounced. It’s in this advanced position where he’s been pulling the strings, making Racing tick like a proper Swiss watch.
His winner against promotion rivals Deportivo was just the latest example of his knack for popping up at crucial moments. Talk about having an eye for the big occasion!
Athletic Club recall rumours quashed
There were whispers earlier in the January window that Athletic might exercise their recall option, what with their midfield being stretched thinner than my wallet after Christmas. Racing supporters were bricking it at the prospect of losing their star man mid-season.
However, sporting director Chema Aragón has confirmed that Athletic’s window to recall Canales has now expired, providing a massive boost to Racing’s promotion hopes. That’s the dog’s dinner sorted for Santander fans!
The Lezama connection
Canales has settled in Santander like a duck to water, helped in no small part by the presence of several other Lezama academy graduates in the squad:
- Ezkieta
- Iñigo Vicente
- Manex Lozano
- Asier Villalibre
This Athletic Club contingent has created a home-from-home environment for Canales, who doesn’t have to travel far from his Basque roots to ply his trade in Cantabria.
Spanish youth international
The midfielder’s talents haven’t gone unnoticed at national level either. Canales has represented Spain across all youth categories and featured in last year’s U20 World Cup, further underlining his pedigree.
As Racing continue their charge at the top of Segunda División, they’ll be hoping their loan star keeps delivering the goods. On current form, you wouldn’t bet against him being the difference between promotion and another season in the second tier.