Alavés loan out Maras to relegation-battling Mirandés
Serbian defender Nicola Maras joins CD Mirandés on loan until the end of the season as the bottom-placed Segunda División side fights for survival.
Serbian centre-back Nicola Maras has swapped the bench at Alavés for a relegation scrap at CD Mirandés, completing a loan move until the end of the season as the Miranda de Ebro outfit desperately tries to avoid the drop.
Frozen Out at Alavés
The writing was on the wall for Maras from the get-go this season. Alavés gaffer Eduardo Coudet made it crystal clear during pre-season that the Serbian wouldn’t get a sniff of first-team action if he stuck around. True to his word, Coudet hasn’t included Maras in a single matchday squad all season, despite Alavés having their fair share of defensive headaches.
Maras, who’s contracted to Alavés until 2027, opted to stay put in Vitoria initially because none of the offers coming his way tickled his fancy. But with zero minutes on the clock, a change of scenery became inevitable as the January window rolled around.
Third Time’s a Charm?
This marks Maras’ third loan spell since helping Alavés secure promotion to La Liga. The former Almería man previously had stints at Levante and Sporting Gijón over the past two seasons, with varying degrees of success.
The powers that be at Mendizorroza are hoping Maras can rediscover his best form at Anduva, potentially attracting interest from other Segunda División clubs where he’s still got a decent reputation. If he turns it around, Alavés might find a permanent buyer for a player who clearly has no future at the club under the current regime.
Mirandés in Desperate Need
Things are looking proper Danny Dyer (dire) for Mirandés right now. Rooted to the bottom of the Segunda División table, they’re in desperate need of reinforcements to mount a survival bid that currently looks about as likely as me getting a call-up from Southgate.
Maras arrives to bolster a leaky defence, with the club hierarchy hoping his experience can provide some much-needed stability at the back. It’s a far cry from last season’s relative comfort in the second tier.
Alavés Clearing the Decks
The departure represents another successful piece of business in Alavés’ “operation exit” strategy. Along with Diarrá, Maras is the second out-of-favour player to be shifted this window.
Sporting Director Sergio Fernández now turns his attention to finding a solution for Mariano’s difficult situation, though the €8 million windfall from Carlos Vicente’s sale has given the club some breathing space to strengthen key positions before the window slams shut.