Alberto Jiménez, from Medunjanin’s shadow to Castellón’s commanding captain | OneFootball

Once overshadowed by Haris Medunjanin’s arrival, Alberto Jiménez leads a Castellón back line that has conceded only two goals in six matchdays.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the pair were unveiled together and the Bosnian took the spotlight, but three seasons on the armband merely reflects leadership Alberto had already earned.

The captain has played all 540 minutes so far, with four clean sheets and 16 points from 18. Romain Matthys and the forwards’ press help, yet Jiménez’s presence at centre-back underpins an adventurous team that gives little away.

His work starts before any clearance, constantly adjusting, correcting and choosing when to step in or hold. On the ball he looks beyond the simple option, breaking lines to let Castellón attack.

Against Tenerife, his boyhood club, he slipped a pass in the 77th minute for Ousmane Camara to complete his brace and make it 5-0, his first assist of the season.

He made LaLiga Hypermotion’s team of the week in rounds five and six, taking 45.36% of the latest vote, and a goal-line clearance at Sabadell preserved a 0-0.

Off the pitch he leads in the dressing room, calming pressure and demanding focus, as he did during promotion and after the return to professional football.

Born in La Oliva, he came through Tenerife, then Valencia’s B, a 2022 loan at Albacete and Córdoba, before joining Castalia in summer 2023.

Leganés await on Monday at Butarque, where Álvaro Morata, their signing this season, could be his next examination.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”