Real Sociedad return to pre-season as Matarazzo era begins | OneFootball

Real Sociedad returned to work on Saturday at Zubieta, the first pre-season under Pellegrino Matarazzo, with 28 players undergoing medical and fitness tests. According to Diario Vasco, the opening day is behind closed doors, with supporters able to watch the team on Sunday at 11:00.

Matarazzo starts with 16 first-team players and 12 from Sanse, with World Cup participants and other internationals yet to report. Álvaro Odriozola and Jon Balda will work separately, the former continuing his recovery from a left ACL rupture, the latter from a severe spleen trauma sustained against Huesca.

From Monday, non-World Cup internationals will begin to return, including Jon Martín, Sergio Gómez and Beñat Turrientes. Jon Mikel Aramburu, Yangel Herrera and Orri Óskarsson, involved in friendlies for Venezuela and Iceland, are due in on Thursday.

Several players shortened their holidays to be ready, among them Gorrotxategi, Barrenetxea, Pacheco, Rupérez and Odriozola. Gorrotxategi and Barrenetxea ended last season with groin and left adductor issues respectively, while Rupérez finished fit after a meniscus problem and kept training. Pacheco returns from Alavés following an ankle arthroscopy.

Javi López, Goti and Carlos Fernández also report back after loans at Oviedo, Córdoba and Mirandés, with Fernández having limited prospects of staying once the window closes. Arsen Zakharyan and Jon Karrikaburu also return with uncertain futures. Real will train for eight straight days, then rest next Sunday. A closed-door joint workout with French second-tier Pau is set for Saturday 11.

Source: Diario Vasco