Why Marcelino will not continue, the ‘no’ that opens the way for Iñigo Pérez | OneFootball

Villarreal and Marcelino have parted ways after months of cordial talks failed to align on the project and the contract length.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, chief executive Fernando Roig Negueroles wants to reset the club’s sporting and economic approach, so he declined a longer deal despite back-to-back Champions League qualifications under Marcelino, a first in the club’s history.

The club offered a one-year extension, preferring to go year by year. Marcelino requested a longer commitment to lead a more ambitious plan.

The offer arrived in December and he remained the first option to continue into 26/27. After two and a half seasons of this second spell, the hierarchy favoured flexibility and wished to avoid long commitments. They did not rule out extending the relationship if results and day-to-day dynamics were positive.

Both sides agreed to keep negotiations private and to avoid public comment, focusing instead on Champions League qualification. Internally, the priority was performance, unity in the dressing room and preventing future plans from distracting a decisive run-in.

With that mutual no in place since December, and although it was only made official on Monday, the club assessed alternatives late in the season. Iñigo Pérez, currently Rayo Vallecano’s coach, fits the desired model and has a two-year agreement in principle with an option for a third, to be formalised once Rayo secure survival in Primera División and conclude their Conference League campaign, where they are in the semi-finals.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo