Ortuño's Ceuta nightmare ends as striker makes swift Murcia switch
Juanto Ortuño departs AD Ceuta after just six months, having started only one league match before sealing a move to Real Murcia in Primera RFEF.
After a forgettable stint that’s been shorter than a London bus queue on a rainy Monday, Juanto Ortuño has officially left AD Ceuta, with Real Murcia in Primera RFEF Group 2 his new destination.
Brief and Barren Spell
The striker, who arrived with some fanfare as Ceuta’s first signing following their promotion to Segunda División, has endured a torrid time in North Africa. Manager José Juan Romero had already let the cat out of the bag last week when he hinted at the player’s imminent departure.
Ortuño’s statistics make for grim reading:
- Just one league start (in a home defeat to Sporting Gijón on matchday two)
- Eight further league appearances, all from the bench
- Zero goals in all competitions
- Two Copa del Rey appearances without finding the net
The former Eldense man never managed to convince Romero, becoming increasingly peripheral as the season progressed. His prospects took another hit with the arrival of Marcos Fernández, who immediately leapfrogged him in the pecking order.
Tactical Decisions
Even when Ghanaian forward Obeng departed the club, Ortuño remained firmly rooted to the bench. More telling still, when Fernández was sidelined through injury, Romero preferred to repurpose midfielders like Kuki Zalazar as makeshift strikers rather than turn to the out-of-favour Ortuño.
The writing was on the wall for weeks, and now the 30-year-old will look to rebuild his career with Real Murcia, dropping down a division to do so.
Ceuta’s Forward Options
With Ortuño’s departure, Ceuta’s striking department looks rather Adam and Eve (thin), with just two recognised centre-forwards remaining:
- Marcos Fernández - The current first-choice striker
- Marc Domènech - Winter window arrival from Mallorca
The North African club will be hoping these two can provide the firepower needed to maintain their Segunda División status in what remains of the season.