One of the triplets fulfils his dream with Real Sociedad debut | OneFootball

At minute 55 in La Cartuja, Pellegrino Matarazzo called Álex Marchal to make his Primera División debut for Real Sociedad, a milestone shared with a large family contingent as La Real lost to Betis.

In the stands, friends from Pamplona and the Valle de Egüés waved his shirt, mother Julia embraced a relative, and father Ismael Marchal, once of Málaga, Osasuna, Sporting and Nàstic, held his emotions. According to Diario Vasco, sister Nerea and Marcos, Álex’s fellow triplet from Gorraiz, were also there.

Driving home to Pamplona after a sweltering weekend, Ismael said a debut felt likely after an assured pre-season, the absence of Guedes and with only Ochieng as a bench alternative, so they travelled at short notice. He noted that his wife and three children went, while Hugo, the less football-minded triplet, stayed to look after the dog. Known in football as Ismael Irurzun, he wore his grandmother’s surname, while Álex has always been Marchal.

The four siblings grew up playing two against two. Álex and Marcos stood out, starting at Asdefor at five, then moving to Txantrea, where Álex excelled against older boys before progressing to Real despite Txantrea’s link with Athletic.

The parents stressed responsibility, respect and studies over pressure, with Ismael advising from experience but leaving Álex to make his own way. Despite the first-team bow, the winger’s team remains Sanse. Pre-season in England and a summer step in maturity helped him handle the stage, with around 60,000 in La Cartuja and the weight of representing Real.

Irurzun, a former striker with 200 Segunda matches and nearly 30 in Primera before a serious leg break, sees Álex as a wide player with good feet and sound decisions. After fewer minutes under Ansotegi last season, the family view the setback as useful. With four competitions ahead, they will see if Matarazzo turns to him again, and though he starts wide he has licence to move inside. The family live between Gorraiz and Huarte, Marcos remains closest to him, and Hugo studies video game design.

Source: Diario Vasco

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