Mohamed El Assy: ‘We have a good base team to compete in Primera Division and there won't be many moves’
The UD Almeria Managing Director confirms the arrival of another goalkeeper and a few more signings but states ‘we won’t sell any footballer unless those interested pay what they’re worth’
Mohamed El Assy has announced all the latest UD Almeria news in a press conference at the Power Horse Stadium press room amid this January transfer window: ‘It’s possible that one or two players arrive during this transfer window including a goalkeeper, but we don't have many deals planned because we consider that we’ve created a great base team to compete in the Primera Division,’ he argued. The UD Almeria Managing Director, always honest and eloquent, has pointed out the situation in which the goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco finds himself: ‘It’s simple, we haven’t had any luck with the injuries that he’s picked up and his contract is running for four more years so that he’s got enough time to recover; we’re going to sign another goalkeeper so that Pacheco doesn’t have the pressure of being the second goalkeeper for UD Almería. UD Almería is his home and he can take all the time he needs to recover. I’m not worried about it.’
The Club CEO has also referred to the keen interest shown by other teams in various UD Almeria players in the following terms: ‘We’re receiving many offers for some players, including Akieme; but as long as we don’t receive an offer for the value that we consider our players deserve, we won't sell any of them.’ With regard to left-back Akieme, El Assy added: ‘There are three offers from Spanish clubs but none comes close to what we expect. It wouldn't be smart to sell Akieme in the middle of the season for such a low amount of money. We don't feel comfortable selling players at the halfway point of the season unless those interested pay what they’re worth.’
The UD Almería Managing Director also assessed the current budget that the Rojiblancos’ Club approved: ‘When we arrived the budget was 9 million euros, three years later, it’s now more than ten times. It may even increase in the coming days if a transfer takes place. The growth of the Club is also thanks to the huge efforts of the employees who have been there from the beginning and whom I want to publicly thank.’
El Assy has made the Club's medium-term objectives clear: ‘We’re not going to be relegated to the Segunda Division; we set goals in the last three years that, in one way or another, were fulfilled. This is another promise made by the Club, the coaching staff and the players and it’ll also be fulfilled. The strategy is to go one step further next year and not just fight for safety. We must have better conditions and for that, we’re working hard this season in order to be able to face bigger challenges next season.’
The UDA Academy has always been one of the key objectives of this ambitious project and this has been highlighted as well: ‘I’m really happy with the growth of our Academy. We’ve mentioned it many times and I said before that Rachad will join Spain U18 eventually, which is another subject that confirms that everything we talked about ends up being confirmed. When we have the right facilities, it’ll be more noticeable in performance. Sebastián or Lasarte are doing a great job and I’d like to congratulate them.’ As for the construction of the Sports Complex, Mohamed El Assy has expressed: ‘We’re dealing with the paperwork to obtain the license and start building. If it’s delayed, it isn’t because of us. The first meeting to buy the land was held in January 2020 and the deal was signed in December 2022.’
