The performance of Elche’s power plants during the last season and the current one sparked ongoing discussions about planning and the core squad of the verde. The club’s leadership has focused on maintaining stability while weighing changes to strengthen the team for the future.
The owner of Elche, Christian Bragarnik, chose to keep the core group intact last summer. Gonzalo Verdu, Enzo Roco, and Pedro Bigas extended their contracts for an additional year. Diego Gonzalez also renewed for two more seasons, extending his stay through 2024. The club also pushed ahead with infrastructure improvements in February of the previous year, extending John Chetuaia’s deal until 2025.
The only defensive reinforcement that arrived during the summer market was Argentine defender Fede Fernandez, brought in on the final day of the window. A player with questions about form after a lengthy spell without competitive action, Fernandez faced scrutiny over whether he could regain the level that earned him international recognition. He departed in December alongside Pastore.
In response, Bragarnik pursued Lisandro Magallán, a defender who joined Martinez Valero after a period of inactivity and time with Ajax. The decision reflected a broader strategy to address defensive fragility that had plagued Elche in recent seasons.
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These choices continued to generate controversy and debate. A recurring weakness for Elche has been the defense, and many observers argued for two reliable central options to shore up the back line, even if that meant paying a premium in the transfer market. The club navigates a tense period as the fight to avoid relegation intensifies.
With a potential drop in the standings on the horizon, the future of many of Elche’s current top officials is uncertain. The club faces a decision about continuity for the next campaign in the Second Division, hinging on performances in the closing stretch of this season and, above all, the appointment of a new coach, Sebastian Beccacece.
Gonzalo Verdú, photographed here with the ball along with teammates John and Diego González, remains a central figure in the team’s plans as the season progresses. The squad’s leadership and experience are seen as valuable assets in the challenging path ahead.
At the moment, in his first match leading the team, the head coach must manage fitness issues. Enzo Roco cannot participate due to injuries, with Verdú, Diego González, Magallán, and John sidelined at times. The club also faced the decision to bring in a midfielder before any coaching reshuffle, while Pedro Bigas was the only defender who saw action in the latest match against Barcelona.
Bigas, a Balearic player, has been among the most utilized this season, featuring in 21 games for a total of 1,535 minutes. At 32, his contract runs until June, and Beccacece faces the task of deciding whether to keep him in the Second Division project or negotiate a renewal.
Diego González has logged 19 appearances and 1,478 minutes, and there is ongoing speculation about his future as well. The captain, Verdú, is viewed as a stabilizing presence, and his commitment to finishing his career at Elche remains a tentative possibility given his age and recent minutes. His contract situation will heavily influence the club’s recruitment and retention strategy in the coming period.
The 29-year-old Magallán joined in January and has appeared seven times for 403 minutes. With a smoother run of form in the remaining fixtures, he could become a key piece if he maintains his rhythm and earns renewed trust from the coaching staff.
Among the players most likely to stay are Diego González and John, who are under contract and considered important for both present and future plans. Cádiz-born John faces a decision about his long-term role, with potential transfers on the horizon and the possibility of a renewal on the table if his recovery from injury continues strongly. The final stretch of the season is expected to determine his standing with the club.
Data from the 2022-2023 defensive season shows Enzo Roco at 30 with 19 appearances and 1,478 minutes, Gonzalo Verdú at 34 with 12 appearances and 606 minutes, Pedro Bigas at 32 with 21 appearances and 1,535 minutes, Diego González at 28 with 15 appearances and 930 minutes, Lisandro Magallán at 29 with 7 appearances and 403 minutes, and John in his early 20s with 3 appearances and 151 minutes in 2025.