If success is measured by minutes logged by new recruits, Eldense’s 2023-24 addition of fresh talent tells a striking tale. Last summer, after earning promotion to the Second Division, Deportivo brought in up to 17 players, one of whom stayed on loan. Among these signings, several exceeded the one-thousand-minute mark, underscoring how the squad integrated into the campaign with tangible contributions.
Among the arrivals, Real Valladolid midfielder Sergio Ortuño emerged as the most effective acquisition, appearing in all 21 league fixtures for Deportivo. The coaching staff highlighted a broader trend: only three players logged under 100 minutes, while two other new signings spent less than 300 minutes on the pitch. In total, roughly 30% of the signings had limited impact, but the remaining 70% actively contributed to the club’s current tally of 26 points. The season’s arc suggests a team that gradually settled into a productive rhythm and earned the trust of its manager, Fernando Estévez.
Those who logged the least minutes
The midfield branch bore the lightest load in terms of minutes, dimming Deportivo’s late-season momentum. Players like Miguel Mari, who joined from Intercity, logged 39 minutes across three appearances. Marc-Olivier Doué, on loan from RE Virton, accumulated 63 minutes in three games, while Miguel Llambrich, from Espanyol, contributed 77 minutes in a single appearance. Other newcomers saw limited action as well, with Youness Lachhab and Eddie Salcedo registering modest totals, 246 and 270 minutes respectively across several appearances. Arnau Ortiz, from Girona, contributed 265 minutes across eight contests. The pattern shows a cohort of signings that, in the end, did not become regulars in the rotation, even as the core group pushed toward the midpoint of the table.
The most impactful performers
Among the standout performers, Sergio Ortuño remains the focal point. The midfielder from Púcela started 20 league matches and featured in all 21 rounds of the Hypermotion format, playing 1,767 of a possible 1,890 minutes. At 24 years old and standing 1.78 meters tall, Ortuño earned Estévez’s confidence with a blend of tenacity and technical quality that helped anchor the team’s approach. His recent contributions have proved pivotal to the squad’s results and strategic plans going forward.
Ortuño’s key moment at Albacete
Within the league calendar, a notable performance unfolded in a visit to Albacete where Ortuño helped shape the result through steady work and decisive plays. The midfielder’s consistency across the season provided a reliable platform for teammates and a blueprint for how Eldense could press forward in tighter fixtures.
Mateu, Tomir and Chapela
The next tier of involvement belonged to striker Marc Mateu, who arrived from Huesca and secured a starting spot in the first XI. Mateu appeared in 19 games, all as a starter, totaling 1,633 minutes. Midfielder David Timor, also arriving from Huesca, ranked third in minutes with 1,413 across 18 starts, underscoring his role as a steady presence in midfield. The forward line was further reinforced by Ivan Chapel from Cadiz, who accumulated 1,335 minutes in 21 appearances, starting 15 of them. Defensively, Inigo Pina, formerly with Real Murcia, logged 1,264 minutes in 15 appearances, contributing across the back line and maintaining a regular presence from the outset. The set of players leaned on by Estévez included Florin Andone from Las Palmas, who amassed 1,192 minutes in 17 appearances, while Dario Dumic from SV Sandhausen added 1,176 minutes across 16 fixtures, providing a mix of experience and leadership from the back.
In the castle
Among the goalkeepers, Andoni Zubiaurre of Real Sociedad earned a starting role in 10 matches, while Álvaro Aceves from Real Valladolid saw action in three. In this phase of the campaign, the defense also featured Derick Poloni from Casa Pia, who logged 576 minutes across 12 appearances and finished among the top five for multiple moments, illustrating periodic spells of influence that complemented the more regular contributors.