Schinocca: Elche have built a strong, well-balanced squad

Elche general director Pedro Schinocca believes the Spanish club finished the transfer window with “a great market” and “a balanced squad” offering options and variety.

Elche completed four signings and released two players on the final day of the LaLiga EA Sports transfer period. Schinocca said the activity matched the plan established at the end of last season and gave the club a positive overall assessment.

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We have had a great market, in line with what we had planned at the end of the season.

He defended the sale of Austrian center-back David Affengruber, one of the team’s most important players. Affengruber had one year left on his contract, but Schinocca said the player had asked to leave and had reached an understanding with the club about continuing his professional development. British media reported the transfer at nearly 12 million euros, which Schinocca described as “a great sale.”

“We want to defend Elche’s interests, but we also have to keep our word, and that is part of our club philosophy,” Schinocca said. He added that the club had to reinvent itself, something he called part of Elche’s DNA.

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We want to defend Elche’s interests, but we also have to keep our word, and that is part of our club philosophy.

Schinocca said the opportunity to sign French midfielder Thomas Lemar emerged several weeks ago. He described Lemar as a player “who catches everyone’s attention” and said the market rewards clubs that have the budget and know how to wait. He also praised Rubén Sánchez, Roy Revivo and Kevin Lomónaco, while reiterating his confidence in goalkeepers Dituro and Iturbe.

The director general said he was satisfied with the final attacking options, even though the replacements for Rafa Mir, André da Silva and Álvaro Rodríguez do not have the same career scoring numbers as last season’s forwards. “We are convinced by the forwards we have,” he said. Schinocca declined to say how much the club raised from sales or spent on signings, but said Elche’s orderly management allowed it to pursue a long-term project.

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We are convinced by the forwards we have.