Elche CF Players Return From International Duties on a Mixed Holiday Break
The majority of Elche CF players have started their vacation since May 23, with a few exceptions who postponed their rest or joined fellow teammates later. Helibelton Palacios, however, remains part of a positive update: he was recalled by the Colombian national team. Last Sunday, the right-back took part in a friendly against Saudi Arabia at the Enrique Roca stadium in Nueva Condomina, Murcia, where Colombia edged Saudi Arabia 1-0.
Palacios came on for Jhon Lucumí in the 57th minute and played the remainder of regular time, plus seven minutes of extra time. The Elche defender did not produce a standout performance but contributed to the team’s effort in a competitive context. Colombia’s goal came early, with Eintracht Frankfurt forward Rafael Borja scoring in the 8th minute.
Another Elche offensive option, Cucho Hernández, also appeared in the second half, replacing Granada’s Luis Suárez as part of Colombia’s attacking lineup.
Following the match, Palacios joined the Colombia squad again and headed back to the training camp schedule as the holiday period commences for the squad. This marks a brief pause before the team reconvenes for the next phase of preparations.
Javier Pastore
Most of the green-and-white squad have departed for their hometowns or countries, though several remain nearby. Johan Mojica lingered in Elche’s vicinity last week to attend the Colombia match in Murcia, though he did not feature in the squad due to a lingering muscle issue that ended his season on the sidelines.
As for Javier Pastore, he did not travel to Argentina. The midfielder, who spends time in San Juan Beach, is awaiting his children to finish the school year and plans to travel to Argentina next week on his own terms.
Pastore used the recent two weeks of continuity to explore opportunities across Spain and beyond. He paid a visit to London to follow the Argentina-Italy match and then traveled to Paris last Thursday, coinciding with Roland Garros’ final in which Rafael Nadal captured his 14th title. The Argentine player has a long history with Paris Saint-Germain and maintains strong connections in both London and Paris. These ties have allowed Pastore flexible arrangements during this transitional period as he balances club duties with personal commitments and international duties that recur during the offseason.