Mayol handed Valencia debut as Óscar Sánchez backs teenager in Alavés test | OneFootball

Teenage midfielder Aaron Mayol made his top-flight debut for Valencia last night, starting in midfield against Alavés under interim coach Óscar Sánchez.

As reported by AS, Sánchez has trusted Mayol since arriving in March to take charge of VCF Mestalla, and his inclusion for such a key fixture caught the eye.

On the pitch Mayol went the full 97-plus minutes, showed power and composure, and offered glimpses of quality and industry. He attempted 42 passes, completing 36, including five successful long balls at 83%, and he committed three of Valencia’s 15 fouls.

Mayol spent 11 seasons in Levante’s academy before joining the VCF Academy in 2025 to play for Juvenil A. Last season he won Group VII of División de Honor, then, after Angulo left and Sánchez took over VCF Mestalla, he featured in the run-in and was key to the team’s survival.

He played in pre-season under Carlos Corberán but did not debut in the top flight until last night, becoming the 126th player to reach the first team after featuring for VCF Mestalla since the Ciutat Esportiva de Paterna officially opened in 1992.

Sánchez said he selected Mayol on performance and attributes, felt he needed little instruction, and urged him to enjoy the occasion, compete and lean on team-mates. He asked for patience and continuity, and for the youngster to keep improving. Valencia, meanwhile, are navigating a week of change after dismissing Ron Gourlay and Carlos Corberán, awaiting a new coach set to arrive alongside Braulio Vázquez, while Sánchez waits to learn if he will lead the side on Sunday against Real Sociedad.

Source: AS

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