The Hercules 2022/23 project is moving at a slower pace than in previous seasons, yet last week the staff managed to complete six signings that reinforce a squad which began its journey with a handful of players and little depth.
Among these new arrivals, the presence of three players from the same club stands out. Hercules pulled from Intercity, a neighboring club, bringing in Maxi Ribero, Villacañas and Cristian Cedrés. The trio, known as the men in black, were promoted to First RFEF with Intercity and now seek the chance to repeat that ascent in the city of Alicante.
Hercules has long leaned on footballers from Intercity, a strategy guided by Paco Peña, the driving force behind the club’s sports project. The new Blue and White sporting director has spent years witnessing Intercity’s growth firsthand, first as a late‑career player and later within the technical staff.
Peña chose to place his trust in players he had already observed in Intercity. None of these three have yet secured a permanent spot with the “men in black” on this new page, but their goal is to turn a potential setback into a springboard for Hercules’ return to the upper tiers of Spanish football.
Strong ties between Hercules and Intercity, along with Peña’s role as a bridge between the two clubs, suggest that more players could follow this path without changing surroundings. In fact, Hercules also explored the possibility of bringing back Gustavo Siviero to lead the team at one point. The Argentine coach agreed to stay with Intercity and continue leading the attack in the Second Division this season, a decision that shapes the broader transfer strategy for both clubs.
different roles
Maxi Ribero, Villacañas and Cristian Cedrés joined Intercity last winter and are now entering Hercules together. The Argentine midfielder played a pivotal role in Siviero’s plans, and his absence from the lineup this season was notably surprising.
Ribero, 24, who began his career with Newell’s Old Boys, has rapidly become a fan favorite at Intercity since arriving in Alicante. He settled into the engine room, starting 10 of the 12 matches after the initial two came as a substitute. A surprising shift occurred when he disappeared from his coach’s plans following a dismissal in a match against Mar Menor. He brings discipline, balance and defensive acumen to the midfield, and there is optimism that his late‑season form in 2021/22 can reemerge and continue to grow his personal development.
Villacañas, 26, also played a key part in the latter phase of the Intercity campaign. Arriving from Extremadura, his versatility proved valuable in keeping his team competitive. He remained a regular presence on the pitch, recording 720 minutes across 16 appearances, with six starts. He even found the back of the net against Mar Menor in a crucial moment that set the stage for the club to push toward its objectives. His adaptability and reliability on both flanks and in multiple roles make him a flexible asset for Hercules this season.
Finally, Cristian Cedrés, 26, who has trained with Las Palmas, Real Madrid and Villarreal academies, was the least prominent of the trio at Intercity. He appeared in 10 matches, with three starts, and managed to score a goal that secured a win over Puertollano. A winger by trade, Cedrés possesses quality and pace that could unlock defenses and create opportunities. In Hercules, he will have another chance to demonstrate the potential that excited the coaching staff, alongside his two teammates and the leadership from Peña, who has marked the project with a distinctive black‑and‑white identity.