Villarreal news: Pedraza signs, B team rebuild, more

A few news tidbits: Alfonso Pedraza has signed a new, improved contract. As is typical Villarreal have only announced the length of the contract (to 2021), not any other details. Levante want to take him on loan, if we can’t find a space for him in our first team. (Speaking of which, Samu Castillejo was quoted today as saying he is unaware of any offers for his services from Napoli, or anywhere else).

Rodrigo Hernandez started and played 90 minutes in Spain’s 1-0 win over Serbia at the under-21 Euros. (Portugal U-21’s won their match as well, Semedo did not play).

And Villarreal have announced that the B team will consist only of players 23 years of age or younger. This is a change from the past couple of years when we had some veteran lower-level players (Carlitos Martinez, Carlos Lopez). Players under 23 can be shuttled back and forth between the first team and the second team without restrictions.

We’ve already released a number of these overage players, and the rest will be made available soon evidently. José Peris (28) has already signed a contract with newly-relegated Elche, who will join our Segunda B group this season. And former B team coach Paco López, who coached our B team the last couple of seasons, the C team before that, and headed up the team that won the U-21 Premier League International Cup, has accepted a job as coach of Levante’s B team.

Our ‘alevin’ youth side is in New Jersey, playing in a La Liga Promises international event; they are in a group with a team from New York City, Benfica, and Barcelona. (Unfortunately, they lost both their matches today by 1-0 scores, to the Portuguese and Barca).

Enjoy the (at last here) warm weather!!