murad will continue training with the reserve squad only if a late change happens. He remains with the Elche CF first team group for preparation, just as he did during the friendly period when he was highly involved in the matches. The Spanish-Moroccan striker does not have a long professional track record, and the move to stop Real Betis is not straightforward. Francisco is unavailable for the league opener next Monday at Benito Villamarín at 9:30 am. The young player is 24, which means he is not eligible for under-23 rules, preventing a switch between the reserve team and the first team.
This situation comes with no formal agreement between Elche and the player’s representatives regarding a contract extension. That lack of a settled agreement has led the Franjiverde club, for which Mourad has been campaigning, to position him in training with the subsidiary while the club searches for a resolution.
Elche has made a formal offer to Mourad to extend his contract by three more seasons and to pursue a loan, mainly within the Second Division. Lugo is among the teams considered, and there has been interest in adding him to their attack. The club remains optimistic about his potential with the Galician squad, provided there is a clear contract extension in place.
The player’s management team wants the franchise to commit to the young striker by guaranteeing him a place in the A team or by offering a solid contract. Currently Mourad earns roughly 40,000 euros. If negotiations fail, the aim would be to end the freelance arrangement and explore other opportunities.
A conflict exists between the two sides. Elche does not want to release a player who could deliver value in the coming seasons without ensuring a clearly defined path in the Second Division. The representatives also seek a portion of any future deals. An agreement is expected to emerge in the next few days, potentially benefiting both sides. If no accord is reached, Mourad could end up playing for Illicitano in the Third RFEF, a move that would disappoint a player who has already proven himself at a higher level during the First RFEF stint with Alcoyano, after two seasons on loan.
exit process
Alongside efforts to stabilize the first squad, the Franjiverde organization is also working on finalizing the list of players not included in the upcoming campaign. Jose Ma has terminated his contract and left Leganes. Negotiations continue with Mourad, and the club is also exploring an exit for goalkeeper Axel Werner.