Granada Football Club held a training session at the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium, the last before their Copa del Rey match against Rayo Vallecano. The session was open to the public, allowing fans to engage with the team. However, coach Pacheta was unable to field several players, including Martin Hongla, who is finalizing his transfer to Aris Thessaloniki, and goalkeeper Luca Zidane, who is currently representing Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations. Additionally, Pau Cadadesús is sidelined due to an injury sustained in a previous match against Almería, while Baïla Diallo worked separately from the team before joining the group.
In preparation for the match, Pacheta has brought in several players associated with Recreativo Granada and other linked teams. Among the new faces are goalkeepers Iker García and Marco, right-back Gael Joel, defender Flores, left-back Pere Haro, and forward Rayan Zinebi. It is expected that, with the exception of Marco, all these players will be included in the squad for the upcoming match, with several likely to start or get significant playtime.
The training session went relatively smoothly, although a few players ended early, including Souleymane Faye. His future at the club remains uncertain as negotiations are underway for his transfer to Sporting Portugal. After the session, the Senegalese player took time to sign autographs for the approximately 2,000 fans in attendance, underscoring the close relationship between the team and its supporters.
The match against Rayo Vallecano is anticipated to be a significant challenge, but with the new additions and a dedicated fanbase, Granada appears determined to put forth a strong performance.