Elche FC Welcomes New Signings: Villar, Morente, and Sangaré Express Excitement

Gonzalo Villar, Tete Morente, and Buba Sangaré have expressed their excitement about joining Elche FC during their introductory presentations as new players. Villar and Morente are particularly thrilled to embark on new journeys wearing the franjiverde jersey, while Sangaré is delighted to represent his hometown club for the first time.

Both Gonzalo Villar and Buba Sangaré arrive on loan with an option to buy, whereas Tete Morente has signed a permanent contract until 2028. During the press conference, the general director of Elche, Pedro Schinocca, emphasized the dedication each player demonstrated in joining the club.

At 27 years old, Gonzalo Villar is returning for his third stint with Elche. He stated, “For me, it means coming back home. I am very grateful. There was no need to look anywhere else. I hope this will be not just for six months, but that the purchase option will be exercised.” Villar, who joins from Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, acknowledged that he is now a “more complete and mature player” compared to the one who left six years ago. He intends to enhance his previous performance with Elche, clarifying that he is not here to replace Rodrigo Mendoza, who transferred to Atlético Madrid, but to make his own mark.

Meanwhile, Tete Morente also regards this return as a homecoming. He remarked, “This is the only club where I have played four consecutive years.” Morente is back a year and a half after his time at Lecce in Italy. He revealed, “We discussed a potential return last summer, but it didn’t materialize,” and noted his primary role will be to strengthen the right wing. “Christian (Bragarnik) made it clear they wanted me for that position. In Italy, I played primarily on the right. I adapt well to both flanks,” said the 29-year-old, who believes he has gained maturity during his time abroad.

Lastly, Buba Sangaré is thrilled to fulfill his dream of playing for his local club. At just 18, he arrives on loan from AS Roma, where he participated in training but did not debut with the first team. “The training was demanding,” Sangaré stated, feeling “very prepared” to fill the right-back position, left vacant by Álvaro Núñez’s transfer to Celta and Héctor Fort’s injury. “I am not overwhelmed by pressure. I will give my all to meet the expectations,” he affirmed, mentioning he had more offers from other Spanish clubs during the winter market but was determined to join Elche.

All three players are eager to quickly adapt to Eder Sarabia’s playing style and contribute to Elche’s goal of maintaining its position in La Liga. Gonzalo Villar and Tete Morente are set to make their debuts in the upcoming match against Real Sociedad on Saturday at 21:00, while Buba Sangaré will need a few more weeks due to physical discomfort.