Football Presse

Celta Vigo director hints at Mingueza exit and Aspas farewell season

·By Paul Lindisfarne
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Celta Vigo football director Marco Garcés has suggested the club is unlikely to retain Oscar Mingueza beyond this summer, while remaining optimistic about Iago Aspas completing one final season at Balaídos.

Speaking pitchside at Camp Nou after the loss to Barcelona, Garcés was candid about both situations — and notably silent on the future of Marcos Alonso, the third senior player out of contract in June.

On Mingueza: "He is doing far too well. He is playing for the Spain national team and obviously there are interested clubs that have more money than we can offer. It looks difficult, but we have made him a proposal."

On Aspas: "Iago also has a proposal from us and we remain very optimistic. Of course Mingueza is a player who has given us a lot, who has that quality we need in the final third — but Iago leaving would also hurt."

Aspas, 38, is in his final contractual year after signing a one-year extension in December 2024. Should he agree a further season, it would represent his farewell campaign at the club where he made over 500 appearances and scored more than 210 goals. Garcés suggested the captain is expected to commit to one more year.

Celta are currently in the race for European football, sitting just outside the qualification places with five games remaining. Their elimination from the Europa League in the quarter-finals was described by Garcés as "painful but not season-ending."