Real Zaragoza's winter reinforcements bring ray of hope in relegation battle
Six new signings unveiled at Real Zaragoza as the club fights to escape the Segunda División drop zone, with returning hero El Yamiq among the new faces.
The struggling Aragonese side have thrown the kitchen sink at their relegation troubles with a massive January overhaul that might just save their bacon.
Six-pack of signings unveiled
Real Zaragoza presented all six of their winter window acquisitions in one fell swoop today, with each new face expressing determination to pull the historic club away from the Segunda División drop zone. With relegation spots looming just five points away after a poor run of form, these reinforcements couldn’t have come at a better time for the Blanquillos.
The new arrivals represent a complete squad refresh:
- Willy Agada - Forward
- Rober González - Winger
- Nikola Cumic - Attacking midfielder
- Jawad El Yamiq - Defender
- Juan Larios - Left-back
- Mawuli Mensah - Midfielder
Attack-minded solutions
Rober González spoke about his versatility, noting he can operate on either flank but feels most comfortable on the right wing or as a number 10. Meanwhile, Agada made no bones about his mission, pledging to solve Zaragoza’s offensive woes: “I want to help with my goals.”
Nikola Cumic brings Segunda División experience from his time at Sporting Gijón, though he admitted his previous Spanish adventure was complicated by COVID and being away from his homeland. The Serbian attacker consulted with compatriot Popovic before making the move and believes he can deliver more goals than he managed in Russia.
Defensive reinforcements
Left-back Juan Larios, who had his Southampton loan at Cultural Leonesa cut short to join Zaragoza, cited manager Rubén Albés as a major factor in his decision. Despite acknowledging the competition for his position, the youngster seems eager to learn and contribute.
Perhaps the most significant arrival is Jawad El Yamiq, returning to what he calls his “second home.” The Moroccan defender didn’t mince words about the club’s predicament: “The situation is very difficult, but first we’re going to save the team and then we’ll talk about my future.”
Rounding out the new faces, Mawuli Mensah revealed his surprise at receiving a last-minute call from Zaragoza’s sporting director Txema on deadline day. The dynamic midfielder described himself as comfortable either as a double pivot or in a more advanced role.
For a club of Zaragoza’s stature - five-time Copa del Rey winners and former European trophy holders - Segunda División survival is the bare minimum. These six signings represent not just new players, but a proper lifeline for a sinking ship.