La Liga club dismiss links with Barcelona academy starlet: ‘A market rumour’ | OneFootball

Hansi Flick’s preseason campaign so far has been dominated by academy standouts and non-international players given how most first-team names were at the FIFA World Cup.

Also in the dynamics over the past month were players who have returned from their loan stint, and one such name is Hector Fort.

The young full-back left the club on loan last summer to join Elche where he did decently well under Eder Sarabia.

His deal, however, did not include an option to purchase and he is thus back in Catalonia working under Flick’s orders.

Elche dismiss talks of a return

In a recent report, Mundo Deportivo highlights how Elche’s general manager Pedro Schinocca was asked about Fort in a recent media interaction.

Fort spent last season at Elche. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The administrator was directly asked if the club were considering a return for the Barcelona star, either on a transfer or a loan, especially given his performances at the club. His response, however, was cold and far from encouraging.

“[It is just] a market rumour,” Schinocca said. 

Needless to say, the response does not leave much optimism that Elche will return for the La Masia graduate, and leaves his future in the air once more.

An appointment that changes everything

Last season, Fort made fourteen appearances and seven starts for his club in La Liga and averaged over 35 minutes per game. In that duration, he scored two goals and provided as many assists.

The player is departure bound again. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

The player also completed 83% of his passes and averaged 0.9 shots and 0.3 key passes per game, thus racking up numbers that were anything but average.

What has changed at Elche, however, is the managerial situation and thereby the team’s style. 

Last season, it was Eder Sarabia at the helm and the manager pushed for Fort to be at the club as the player suited the brand of football that he saw right for the club. 

Now, however, he has been replaced by Martin Anselmi and the chances of Fort returning appear bleak.

The player, thus, must look for an alternative transfer away from Barcelona or back himself to compete with Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia at right-back.