Beware Barça: Here Comes a More Blaugrana-Laden UD Las Palmas
Beware Barça: Here Comes a More Blaugrana-Laden UD Las Palmas UD Las Palmas, sporting a more ‘blaugrana’ lineup, will step onto Montjuïc this Saturday (9:00 PM) with a significant representation of former Barcelona players, starting with their coach, García Pimienta, and ending with the loaned-out Julián Araujo, who won’t be able to play due to the so-called ‘fear clause.’
The ‘Pimi’ Revival It will be the first time Fran García Pimienta visits Barcelona to face a team he came close to coaching on two occasions when he led the reserve team but fell short. His departure from the club was controversial, as the decision not to renew his contract and pass the reins of the then-Barça B to Sergi Barjuan was made. ‘Pimi,’ who led the reserve team to two consecutive playoffs without promotion, did celebrate a promotion last season with UD Las Palmas. In his second year, he has stabilized the Gran Canaria team in LaLiga EA Sports, playing possession-based football. However, the ‘Yellow Submarine’ heads to Montjuïc after a painful home defeat to bottom-placed Almería (0-1), who clinched their first win with Jonathan Viera in their ranks. The departure of the charismatic Las Palmas player has been the most delicate chapter ‘Pimi’ has had to address during this period.
Watching Mika Mármol In addition to Julián Araujo, who will return to Barça on June 30 as there is no established buy option from the island club, the one with greater potential is Mika Mármol. Barça retained 50% of the central defender’s rights, and many clubs are chasing him, so the Blaugrana entity is keeping an eye on his future. The Egarense is solid defensively and stands out for his quality with his left foot and clean ball distribution. He only played for 1 minute (plus stoppage time) under Xavi Hernández’s team. It was in Getafe, in May 2022. Last season, he played on loan at Andorra with great performance.
Trident ‘Made in Barça’ The forward line boasts more ex-Barça players. Marc Cardona scored 24 goals in 60 matches for the Barça reserve team but only made two appearances for the first team. He played barely half an hour, including in the Champions League (against Borussia Mönchengladbach) and the Copa del Rey (in Alicante against Hércules) under Luis Enrique’s management.
Munir El Haddadi scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in 56 games for Barça, first under ‘Txingurri’ Valverde and later under Luis Enrique. He joined the Blaugrana club’s Juvenil B team when García Pimienta was the coach. He has since played for Valencia, Alavés, Sevilla, and Getafe before reuniting with ‘Pimi.’
Sandro Ramírez was given his chance by ‘Lucho’ in the first team after arriving from his native Las Palmas to La Masia as a cadet. His record: 32 matches, 7 goals, and 2 assists. He then went on to play for Málaga, Everton, Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Real Valladolid, and Huesca before completing the circle and returning to his homeland. At 28, he’s a football journeyman.
