Mario Rosas, now Eldense chief, ‘to ask’ Barcelona for loans of Pedro Villar and Ebrima Tunkara | OneFootball

Mario Rosas, a cherished former Castellón midfielder and later assistant, is now general director at CD Eldense. The Alicante club have just been promoted to Segunda División as champions of group two of Primera Federación, and he is shaping their 2026/27 squad.

According to SPORT, Rosas plans to ask Barcelona for season-long loans for teenagers Pedro Villar, 18, and Ebrima Tunkara, 16.

Eldense want Villar as a pure holding midfielder. His technique and winning temperament have impressed Rosas, and he earned Iuliano Belletti’s trust at Barça Atlètic late in the season. Eldense accept it could be hard to persuade Barça and the player.

Tunkara, a Spanish-Gambian talent from La Masia, ended the campaign with minutes in Segunda Federación. At only 16, he has played as an interior and as a right winger. Left-footed and powerful, Rosas feels a spell at Eldense could toughen him and add experience.

Tunkara is due to begin pre-season with Barcelona’s first team, and both he and Villar will prioritise the difficult dream of trying to convince Hansi Flick.

Rosas came through Barcelona’s academy, debuting under Louis Van Gaal, before joining Castellón in 2005 and staying until 2009. A technical, composed midfielder with a fine strike, he scored a Castalia brace against Celta in September 2008, then later returned as Juan Carlos Garrido’s assistant in Segunda. He has also spent time living in the province.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo